In My Darkest Hour, You Were There - Reno (Final Fantasy VII) x Turk Reader

A few hours later, and you're still hard at work directing the people deployed to the pillar. Reno has become somewhat distracted by trying to get his payback on Cloud, or "Mister First Class" as he likes to call him. It's no real surprise to you to hear that Cloud is involved with Avalanche - it seems like the sort of gig that would suit him - and apparently there's another Avalanche member alongside him too, trying to get up the pillar with him. It might seem like an unnecessary distraction but Cloud is pretty damn strong and from all the updates coming in the girl is no slouch either, so as long as it's delaying them from reaching to top of the pillar and the main console where Reno and Rude are going to have to authorise the plate separation, you see no issue with it, so you're letting him get on with it. You have to admit that, despite the situation, it is pretty amusing to hear Reno chatting shit to the ex-SOLDIER - his taunts of "come out, come out wherever the hell you are" and "man you suck at hiding" to name but a few are honestly keeping you going through this. Tseng has also had a change of plan, moving towards a bar called Seventh Heaven in the Sector 7 Slums as he's spotted Aerith and wishes to bring her back to HQ - with Tseng being your boss you have no real say in this, so you've just made a note of it so you're aware of where he is. All the security officers, riot troopers and more are exactly where they need to be, but it turns out that the people of Sector 7 as well as members of Avalanche are putting up a tougher fight than expected - especially on the top floor near the console, where a guy with a gun for an arm is apparently causing a lot of problems, and your officers are losing control up there. Sighing, you realise you have no choice but to get Reno and Rude to intervene,

"Reno, Rude," you say, sounding the alarm over the radio, "Our officers have lost control of the top floor, looks like you guys are gonna have to step in up there."

"Got it," Rude says, before you hear Reno speak up, having missed the message due to being so engrossed in taking down Cloud and the other girl. With Tseng now otherwise engaged with finding Aerith, you stay on the radio to hear the rest of the conversation.

"What, what?" he says, the stress and frustration at his bit of fun being interrupted clear in his tone.

"Seems we've lost control of the top floor," Rude informs him.

"Huh?" Reno asks incredulously, "Our guys are seriously struggling to take down these assholes?"

"Anyway, we may need to intervene personally," Rude says surprisingly calmly, given the situation.

"Whatever you say, partner," Reno sighs, before you hear him give an order as he deploys the troops waiting on standby in the helicopter, "Keep 'em busy, will ya?"

With that, you hear the helicopter's blades whirring up as Rude directs it up the pillar towards the top.

"So what's the deal?" Reno asks, his tone gentler as he speaks to you over the radio. The change is almost imperceptible, but it's enough to make you blush slightly despite yourself.

"There's a guy up top with a gun for an arm, causing havoc with our troops," you inform them, "He's part of Avalanche and pretty strong, so be careful."

Your words could easily come across as a simple professional warning, but Reno's reply confirms that he clearly understands the hidden meaning behind them,

"We will, ba- umm, partner," he says, and you have to suppress a smile at the way his new nickname for you almost slips out as he reassures you.

"Good," you say, before your heart pulls at the sound of gunfire in the background; they've clearly reached the top floor, "I'm gonna leave you guys to it. Good luck, and be careful," you say, not really wanting to go but knowing full well that they need to concentrate.