Picking up the Pieces

Sorry About the lateness again, I was totally uninspired about a sex scene that I wanted to put in here and the chapter just kind of ground to a halt. Then my beta, Dr. Scientist came to the rescue and helped me out with it. So enjoy!

Thanks go to Jo for their review, I’m glad you’re enjoying the story so far and I hope that you enjoy this chapter.
Were you a bit hesitant because of the amount of chapters or the pairings? I’m curious ^_^

Chapter 10. Betrayal’s end


It was hours before Reno finally sat down, slumping into the chair in the interrogation room and lighting up a cigarette.
He couldn’t remember a time that someone had lasted so long. But eventually they always cracked; the human body was too fragile a thing. The kid was no exception.

They had the answers that they had been looking for. Just as they had expected it had indeed been the Fat Bastard who had sent his son into the lion’s den and Reno had even managed to get Palmer’s location out of the kid. It would be an interesting reunion when they got their hands on the fat fuck… but that was all work for another day. He sighed wistfully as he picked some of the dried blood from under his fingernails before looking the boy over.

Caleb Palmer was a mess, virtually unrecognisable as the kid who had been tied to the chair earlier, and Reno guessed that he wasn’t going to be in the land of the living much longer.
His fingers were bloody and broken; the nails ripped from them, he was covered in burns and open wounds from where Reno had gotten a little too excited with his EMR, one of his eyes was painfully swollen to the point that it couldn’t be opened, and the other was glazed and red with blood. Caleb’s breath wheezed laboriously in and out and Reno wondered idly if he had broken a few ribs along the way. The boy’s mouth was slack, hanging awkwardly to one side where the joint had become dislocated, blood and drool leaking from one drooping corner.

He took a deep drag on his cigarette and closed his eyes, he was a little disappointed that it was over; he had been thoroughly enjoying himself. Well, I’m going to something far more enjoyable now, he thought to himself with a little smirk as he remembered Cloud and the hotel room for two.

He turned to Elena and Rude as he stood up, “You guys will take care of the rest, yeah?”

Elena nodded grimly and moved past Reno toward the boy in the chair. Just as he closed the door behind him he heard the gunshot and he smiled, he never would have wasted a bullet on that guy… but he knew that Elena was a little more sensitive about these things.

As he got into the elevator and pressed the button he was whistling happily, his mind already in the hotel room with Cloud.

~

Elena did her best to help Rude get the body into a bag. The cloying tension that had been hanging in the air had lifted once Reno had left, and she was glad for it.
She loved Reno like a brother but she didn’t like it when he got like that. Elena was no stranger to killing or torture, but for her it was just her job, it was quite obvious that Reno almost got off on it. She could see it in his eyes with every blow he struck and with every bone he snapped, she shuddered to think how he might have turned out if his job didn’t give him the violent outlet that he needed.

She shook her head gently, clearing it of those thoughts. Reno did his job, and he did it well, that was all that mattered.

~

Tseng piloted the helicopter without thinking; the route to Wutai was still firmly etched into his mind since the war. With the lack of mental stimuli he could feel his eyes trying to slip shut; he was just so tired, even Yuffie’s constant chatter wasn’t keeping him awake. He tried shifting in his chair and blinking a few times.
It seemed that the months of captivity had affected him much worse than he had originally thought; he used to be able to go for days with only a few hours sleep. Blearily he glanced down at the landscape that zoomed by beneath them; it would be an understatement to say that it would not be a good thing to fall asleep at the wheel.

Dimly he noticed that Yuffie had fallen silent and he looked at her out of the corner of his eye wearily, her expression was sly and inwardly he groaned.

“So, how is work going?” she asked.

“Fine, we’re doing our best to restore ShinRa as a prominent power.” He said carefully.

“But no Mako?” she asked.

He nodded sleepily, had Wutai always been this far away? It seemed to be taking forever…

~

Cloud was laying on the bed in the hotel room, his hands behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling.
He had spent most of the time wondering what exactly Reno might be doing in work and trying to figure out if there were any disadvantages to letting Rufus live.

When it came to Rufus, if what Reno had said was true, and he desperately hoped that it was, then they didn’t really have anything to worry about. So what if ShinRa became a big company again? As long as they stayed away from mako energy he didn’t really have a problem. Most of the people in the company who had caused him trouble before were dead anyway… and it probably wouldn’t be good for his relationship with Reno if he tried to dispose of Rufus… it could even pit them against each other in a fight.

Cloud shifted uncomfortably on the bed at that thought, could he even fight Reno now if he had to? Knowing what the outcome would be? Sure, Reno could hold his own in a fight, but he was just a normal human after all… not a mako and Jenova infused… abomination… like himself. If push came to shove he knew that he would demolish the redhead. How many times had he fought the Turks before Meteor Fall? When he didn’t care about what happened to them?

The Turks were trained for stealth and subterfuge, not outright brawling… he thought to himself with a frown and his thoughts turned to the nature of Reno’s work. How much did he know about what the Turks did exactly?
He knew that they protected the president of the company with their lives, that they used to choose the candidates for SOLDIER and that they did any intelligence jobs that sheer force could not be implemented for… so what exactly was Reno doing right now? What would justify him being called into work in the middle of the night?

His thoughts where interrupted when his sharp hearing picked up the sound of the elevator door opening down the hallway. Considering the time of night, it was most likely Reno.

Just as he had suspected, the footsteps made their way up the hallway and stopped outside of the room. Cloud smiled and hopped off the bed to open the door. The smile fell off his face when he saw Reno.

The redhead’s suit was dishevelled (more so than usual) and the fabric stained with blood.

“Are you hurt?” he asked urgently as Reno stepped into the room, already pulling off his jacket.

“Hm?” Reno asked with an easy smile

“You’re covered in blood…” Cloud replied, trailing off, taking in the redhead’s expression and the gleam in his eyes. “It’s not yours is it?”

“Of course not, yo” Reno grinned down at him and reached out a hand to ruffle Cloud’s hair. “Now, I need a shower…” the Turk’s smile turned sly. “wanna’ come with?”

Cloud tentatively smiled back, and let himself be led into the bathroom by the swaggering redhead. Reno slipped out of his clothes easily, stretching in an alluringly feline way before climbing into the shower and giving him a blatant ‘come hither’ look. Even if he was a little disconcerted about what exactly his lover had been up to tonight, how could he say no to an offer like that?

~

Reno started up the shower and watched Cloud undress out of the corner of his eye, a smirk forming on his lips. When the last article of clothing had hit the floor Cloud climbed into the shower behind him, wrapping strong arms around his waist and squeezing gently.

They both stood under the spray for a while, letting the hot water warm their bodies. Reno turned in Cloud’s grasp, a smile creeping onto his lips when he saw the other man’s hair. The normally erect spikes had been flattened and the water had washed away whatever the blonde put in his hair to make it stand up like it usually did. The ends of Cloud’s hair were uneven lengths, the longest almost touching his shoulder, it framed his face perfectly.
Cloud was giving him a curious look, probably wondering what he was smiling at, which only made his smile widen.

“What are you thinking?” the blonde asked tentatively.

“Just that the strongest man in the world shouldn’t be this adorable” Reno smirked down at him, twirling one of the longer golden strands around his fingers.

Cloud scowled a little, sticking out his bottom lip and his cheeks turning an attractive shade of pink.

Reno leaned in and kissed the pout and Cloud’s lips softened under his. As if in spite of the ‘adorable’ comment, Cloud suddenly bit down on Reno’s lower lip, eliciting the desired response. Reno’s erection strained against Cloud’s; Cloud pushed him against the wall of the shower and grinded against Reno, kissing him deeply. The water flowing around them denied Reno the friction his arousal craved, and he reached down to take Cloud’s and his own dick in his hand, pushing into the kiss as he pumped them both, slowly.

Cloud broke the kiss, his breath in deep, fast, almost aggressive gasps. He brushed Reno’s hand away, and took over the job. His strong practiced hands worked them both slowly, his calloused palm giving Reno just the right amount of friction. Reno’s hand joined Cloud’s, covering the smaller man’s hand with his, and as he looked lustfully into Cloud’s eyes he watched the shorter man wince with pleasure, squeezing their slick dicks together even tighter. Cloud grabbed Reno’s other hand with his free one, pinning him against the wall. Cloud wanted Reno to know he was in charge tonight.

Cloud brought a hunger to their next embrace that Reno had never felt from him before; he was being firm and rough with his kiss, his tongue and moist lips making him want Cloud inside him, the kiss just wasn’t enough. Cloud broke from the kiss briefly, turning up the power on the shower head. Turning Reno around to face the wall, Cloud drank in the sight of Reno’s long lithe body, the wet skin slightly red from the heat and intensity of their foreplay.

Kissing Reno vigorously from behind, Cloud pushed himself flush against Reno, teasing him, both hands stroking his aching erection in long, languid lengths. Reno tried to turn into the kiss, but Cloud held him there, enjoying watching the redhead’s mouth fall open in silent screams. Reno couldn’t hold his moans any longer, not when he was already so worked up from dealing with the Palmer kid earlier; he needed to have his release.

Cloud pushed his erection into Reno’s lower back, he wanted so badly to fuck Reno, but he had to hold back, he wanted this moment to last as long as possible. Presenting his index finger to Reno, Reno sucked it hungrily, knowing what Cloud had in mind. Finally allowing Reno to turn into his kiss, a brief glance into the redhead’s eyes was all the silent agreement Cloud needed, and Cloud pushed his slick finger into the heat of Reno’s ass. He toyed with him a little, the swirling motion of his finger inside Reno matching that of their tongues as they kissed. A small, barely registered feeling of coldness followed the removal of Cloud’s finger, before Cloud pulled Reno up around his hips with his strong arms and entered Reno swiftly, with a satisfying friction that made Reno groan with that exquisite mixture of pleasure and pain.

Reno couldn’t believe how good it felt to have Cloud inside him, his steadily increasing pace and firm thrusts bringing Reno quickly to the brink of pleasure. He could feel it rising inside him, the burning ecstasy taking over his mind, like a curtain being slowly lowered around him. But Cloud continued his little game, and pulled back, until only the slick head of his cock was inside Reno. Making small, shallow thrusts, Reno growled with lust at the bastard - Cloud was fucking teasing him!

Reno’s legs burned, aching with the exertion of holding on to Cloud and from the pleasure, but he tried his best to pull Cloud closer, he needed him inside him, hard and fast. He had never wanted to beg for Cloud’s attention, but as soon as he opened his mouth to plead with the blond, no sound escaped but a small grunt and whimper. The only thing Reno could think about in that moment was how much he wanted Cloud, how much he wanted his strong body to fuck him, how much he fucking needed to feel that closeness…

Cloud’s azure gaze quickly met Reno’s eyes and held him there, just as he plunged all the way inside Reno, fucking him again, harder and faster, with intense want and vigour. In that moment, looking into Cloud’s eyes, Reno felt something inside him melt. His eyes soon glazed over with pleasure, Cloud bringing him closer and closer to the edge, then slowing down, only to start again and intensify Reno’s experience. Reno could feel Cloud’s every thrust in his dick, his orgasm rising and rising as he ached and throbbed. Cloud moved in to kiss Reno, and he started to loose it.

The room suddenly seemed very small, hot and overbearing. His consciousness escaped him, completely lost in the sensations of fucking, his aching hardness leaking precum between their bodies. As Reno began to feel his orgasm rising, he tried to hold back, prolonging the intensity.

His heartbeat echoed in his head as he felt Cloud twitch inside him, and Reno exploded, Cloud keeping his body close, the sensation was almost too much too bear, and Reno’s eyes rolled back in his head as he let his orgasm wrack his body. The tightening around Cloud’s cock happened at just the right moment - Cloud too had been holding back; and with a load groan Cloud released inside Reno, fucking with powerful thrusts as his orgasm rippled over his entire frame. His eyes burned blue fire, and as his muscles began to quiver he fell atop Reno, kissing him deeply and savouring the taste of the full lips. Cloud pulled out slowly, the aftershock of each mans orgasm making them shudder slightly with satisfied pleasure. Cloud fell back beside Reno, and they just lay there, no words were spoken, nothing was needed. The falling water around them felt like some distant memory, each man was only aware of himself and the other spent man beside him. Cloud thought he heard Reno purr as he cuddled into him a little closer, brushing back the wild red hair and smiling.

Man did he feel fucking good.

~

Adrian woke slowly, the real world gradually encroaching on the sleeping. As he rose from sleep he became aware of the unfamiliar bed, and the unfamiliar smells and sounds of the room he was in before he remembered he was in a hotel and that Yuffie was supposed to be beside him. Before he opened his eyes he noticed two things, the first being that Yuffie was not where he expected her to be. The second thing he noticed was that there were no sounds indicating she might be elsewhere in the room or the small en suite bathroom.

So when he sat up in the bed and picked up the note that she had left on her pillow he already knew what it would say.

“Ade,

Sorry for leaving you like this. But I have to get home as soon as possible. I’m going to ask Tseng to help me get there, so I guess I’m in safe hands.
I promise that I really will answer your questions when I see you again.

Sorry again,

Yuffie. xxx”

Adrian sighed and climbed out of bed, he knew that she was justified in ditching him for such an important matter, but it still stung.
He grabbed his clothes off the back of the chair and began to dress, deciding it would be easier to shower back at his room where he could change into a clean suit afterwards.

He glanced at his watch; it was almost five a.m., and he fell back onto the bed with a groan. It was still hours until work started and he wondered if his SOLDIER training had permanently robbed him of the ability to sleep late in the morning.

~

Godo sat in the tearoom of his home, kneeling at the small table and nursing a small jade cup of jasmine tea. He didn’t even blink when he heard a crash from the other side of the house; his daughter was well known for her dramatic and childish entrances when she was in a bad mood (which was often). The best thing for him to do during these common tantrums was to just stay out of her way until she calmed down.

He could hear her stomping in the hallway and realised that she was coming this way, he sighed internally, so much for avoiding a confrontation.

The door to the tea room slammed open but Godo didn’t flinch or look up, instead taking another calm sip from his tea. He then noticed the second set of footsteps, unfamiliar and much softer than his daughter’s. Curiously he raised his gaze and was shocked to see a man in Turk uniform accompanying her.

He put the cup down onto the table gently and turned to his daughter, her eyes where angry, the corners of her mouth pulled down in disapproval. “Why have you brought the enemy into our home, child?” he asked.

She opened her mouth to answer but it was the Turk who spoke. “Do you not recognise me?” his tone was light, as if asking the time of day.

Godo scrutinised the man in front of him, trying to look past that hated uniform. The boy seemed to be of Wutain heritage and he did look familiar… he just couldn’t quite place it. Why he would know someone in ShinRa’s employ was beyond him, even if they were of Wutain descent.

“No. Have we met before?” he asked, casting a sideward glance at his daughter, she was fuming.

The Turk smiled sadly before speaking. “No, we never had the chance.”

“Then why in Gaia’s name would I recognise you?” he asked, he was becoming irritated now.

Yuffie spoke, her tone was curt. “Maybe he looks like someone you used to know?”

“A woman you once knew, perhaps?” the Turk offered.

Godo opened his mouth, intent on asking his daughter if she had gone stark raving mad, when something flickered in the back of his mind.
He looked at the Turk with new eyes and everything fell into place with a sickening click. His eyes widened in disbelief and fear, the Turk was about the right age and there was no denying that he was the spitting image of Sachiko…
But that was impossible. He had always assumed that she had died while fleeing from Wutai… but here was her son, his son, standing here in front of him and he was very much alive.

He had never dreamed that his bastard child would survive, never mind contact his daughter and seek him out. He quickly composed himself, hoping that neither of them had noticed the change in his demeanour. If he continued to feign ignorance he might still get out of this…

~

Yuffie watched her father carefully throughout the exchange, at first he had just seemed confused and angry and she had briefly entertained the thought that none of what Tseng had told her was true.
But then she saw it, when Tseng suggested that he might look like a woman from his past her father had gone white, his eyes betraying him easily. He had put on a calm mask quickly but she had seen all that she needed to see. She knew that he was guilty.

She reached for the Shuriken on her back, drawing it quickly and advancing on her father. His composure faltered at her aggressive move and he fell back out of his kneeling position.

She looked at the man cowering on the floor and felt a solitary tear slip down her cheek. This was not the man that she thought she knew, that she had loved, honoured and trusted. This was not the man she had called father with pride.

“Yuffie…” he started, but she spoke over him.

“How?” she hissed between her teeth. “How could you try to kill a woman pregnant with your unborn child? Pregnant with your son? My brother?!” her voice was steadily escalating. “Are you really that much of a coward?”

She raised the metal pinwheel above her head, intent on dealing the punishment the man on the floor had brought upon himself, but a gentle hand covering her own stopped her.

She turned to Tseng angrily, not understanding why he would prevent her from making their father suffer like he deserved. Her brother’s face was serene but she could see the anger and sadness deep in his eyes.

“You do not want to kill him, Yuffie.” He said calmly.

She scowled at him. “Believe me, I do. If he could betray you and your mother so easily just to cover his own mistake, then what’s there to stop him from doing the same to me? He has disgraced the Kisaragi name and killing him is the only way to restore our family’s honour!”

“I agree entirely, Yuffie.” Tseng answered calmly, glaring coldly at their father. “But this is my quarrel and I should be the one to right it. If you would leave us alone for a few minutes, I assure you that everything will be taken care of.”

Yuffie looked from Tseng to her father. “Yuffie please…don’t…” her father whispered, and she cringed in disgust.

“The least you can do is accept your fate with honour, father. Not plead like a coward for your worthless life.” She said as she made her way to the door, nodding to Tseng as she left.

~

Tseng let out a sigh when his sister finally vacated the room, smoothing down the front of his suit jacket absentmindedly.

“What are you going to do to me?” Godo croaked.

Tseng raised an eyebrow and looked thoughtfully at the man before him. “I’m going to kill you.” He said simply, and Godo inhaled sharply. “I’ll make it quick though, I’ve never been fond of torture.” There is a reason I keep Reno around after all, he thought to himself dryly.

“You know, I grew up hearing about how great the country of Wutai was. Even after all that she went through my mother still loved this place. She taught me the language and about all of the holidays, the traditions and the food... Our home in Midgar was overrun with any objects of Wutain origin that she could find…” Tseng paused and gazed at a decorative shield on the wall, running a finger along the gold filigree.

“She also told me about you. How she loved you and had thought that you felt the same for her, how it almost killed her trying to accept your betrayal. That the only reason she continued on in life was for my sake. She would never have wanted me to come here, and I never would have if it wasn’t for the fact that I met Yuffie. I didn’t want to risk you hurting her like you hurt my mother, like you tried to hurt me. All for the sake of honour.” Tseng turned and walked toward his father, the old man backing into a corner quickly and fearfully.

“I’ve made something of myself, something far grander than being the ruler of a fallen country. I have a family now, one that is built around love and trust and not deceit, and I will welcome my sister into it with open arms.” Tseng drew his gun with practiced ease and fired, the old man was dead before he even realised that the Turk had moved.

The gunshot rang loudly in the air before the door opened and Yuffie entered, a soft gasp escaping her when she saw their father’s body. Tseng was surprised when she grasped him in a fierce hug and he stumbled a little. After the initial shock, he wrapped his arms around her in return and pulled her close when the sobs began to shake her body.

His face was impassive as he held her and looked upon the cooling corpse of his sire, but inwardly he smiled.

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A/N.
Yeah I never liked Godo... can you tell?
Hope you enjoyed that chapter guys! Reviews and ratings are always appreciated.

I finished Crisis Core, woot! Even though you know how it’s going to end, nothing really prepares you for how much more upsetting it is in fully rendered CGI goodness *cry*