Interludes – Scene 23
Scene Notes: Reno’s been arrested a few times. Well… nine times. That he’ll admit to. Once, it was for joyriding in Tseng’s car. This happened very early in Reno’s career as a Turk.
From Chapter 38: Restoration:
“I… uh… borrowed it once, ya know.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re using the term ‘borrowed’ very loosely?”
“Hey, borrowin’ without askin’ is still borrowin’. Although… borrowin’ Tseng’s car without askin’ was definitely not one of my better ideas. S’pecially since I technically didn’t have a license yet. I’m pretty sure I’m only still alive because I was in police custody when he found out…”
Tseng was awake even before his phone rang. He wasn’t sure why, but somehow he just knew it was going to. Sure enough, a scant thirty seconds later, it did just that. The Turks second-in-command sighed and rolled over, wondering what Reno had done now. It was Friday night… so alcohol was almost certainly involved. If he was lucky, Rude would have tagged along and kept him out of the worst sorts of trouble.
Though on the other hand… if Rude had tagged along and he was still getting a call after eleven at night on a Friday, odds were good that he was going be to rushing off to rescue two rookie Turks instead of just one. He didn’t even bother glancing at the display.
“At what point in my life did I do something so horrendous that I deserve this?”
“Um… I’m sorry, sir. Maybe I have the wrong number. This is Detective Arnet with the Midgar Police Department. I’m trying to reach Tseng Itsudake?”
Tseng mentally kicked himself. He’d been expecting Reno to call personally… or perhaps more likely, Rude.
“You have. I apologize… I assumed you would be someone else. What is this regarding?”
“Well… This evening we pulled over a car for excessive speed in Sector 5. The driver was a minor without a valid license. When we ran the registration, it came back as belonging to you.”
Tseng’s hand clenched in a death grip around his PHS and his jaw tightened in barely restrained fury. If he found out that Reno had stolen his car… he was going to murder him. Painfully.
“I see,” he responded in a clipped tone, “And where is my car now?”
“Sector 5 impound.” His eye twitched. “The driver has refused to cooperate, so we haven’t yet located a parent or guardian yet. We’re waiting on fingerprints now. Once he’s been identified, you’ll be able to press charges if you wish.”
“Let me guess… Sixteen years old, red hair, very thin, with two crescent-shaped facial tattoos around his eyes.”
“I… Yes, sir,” the detective answered, sounding surprised.
“Which station is he at?” the Wutaiian Turk ground out.
“Sector 5, Substation C.”
“I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Tell him I’m coming. That should make him far more cooperative.”
It was closer to forty-five minutes before Tseng stormed angrily into the police station. The trains had been running slow. He had little trouble spotting the redhead through the window of an interrogation room, and started towards him. His progress was halted by older police detective.
“Mr. Itsudake?”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps you could clear some things up for me. He seemed a bit… er… terrified… when we told him you were on your way here. How exactly do you know him?”
By then the redhead had spotted him as well, and was watching him through the tempered glass window, looking decidedly pale. Tseng scowled at him and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Unfortunately, I’m responsible for him.”
“You’re his guardian?” the detective asked, leafing through his notes. Apparently his rookie hadn’t been especially forthcoming, even after being informed of Tseng’s imminent arrival. They’d be having a word or two about that later…
“Technically, he’s a ward of Shinra Company,” Tseng replied, “But he is under the direct supervision of the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department… more specifically, under my supervision. I have legal authority over him until he’s of age. Assuming he lives to see tomorrow, that is…”
The other man swallowed nervously. “The Turks?”
“Yes.”
The detective cast a glance over his shoulder at the redhead, offering him a look of sheer pity, before turning back to Tseng.
“I take it you won’t be pressing charges, then.”
“No… I’ll deal with him personally. What exactly has he done?”
The man cleared his throat and flipped open his notebook. “He was pulled over for speeding about an hour and a half ago. He failed to present a valid license, and, obviously, the car wasn’t registered to him. He was with a young lady… also a minor… who was extremely inebriated, and there was an open container of alcohol on the floor of the car. She has since been remanded to the custody of her parents.”
Tseng’s eyes narrowed. “Is he drunk as well?” If he was, the senior Turk was going to strangle him. Drinking on his time off was one thing… though Tseng didn’t, strictly speaking, approve. Drinking and then going on a joyride was quite another.
“No, he’s not. He claims he hasn’t had anything to drink at all, actually… though being a minor, we’re limited in what tests we can perform without a parent or guardian’s permission.”
“Anything else?”
“He did try to flee after he was pulled over. The arresting officer said he got about six blocks before he apparently thought better of it and surrendered peacefully.”
The Wutaiian Turk ground his teeth. Of all the idiotic things to do…
“I assume there’s no issue with releasing him to me… Along with my car?”
“No… No issue. Uh… Right this way.” He led him towards the interrogation room and unlocked the door. Tseng stepped inside pausing directly in front of his wayward rookie.
Reno scrambled to his feet, fearfully coming to attention. “I can explain…”
“I strongly suggest holding your explanations until I’m in a slightly less homicidal mood,” he intoned, dangerously. He pointed to the door. “Now move.”
“Uh… I kinda think I’d rather stay in jail tonight…” the redhead replied, eying his irate commander with trepidation.
“Move,” he repeated, in a tone that was not to be argued with.
“… Yes, sir…” the rookie said, meekly, before cautiously slipping past him and out of the interrogation room, never taking his eyes off of Tseng.
Neither of them said a word to one another as Tseng reclaimed his stolen property and strapped Reno into the passenger’s seat. The silence lingered over them until they were nearly halfway to Reno’s apartment. Finally, the redhead seemed to work up the courage to break it.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re certainly going to be,” the senior Turk responded, eyes locked on the road in front of him. Out of the corner of his vision, he saw Reno flinch. “I hesitate to even ask for an explanation. I’m far too angry with you as it is…”
The redhead sank down in the seat. “I… I was tryin’ to impress some girls.”
“Among which, I assume, was the one the police found you with?”
“No… I met her later. At a party,” he admitted.
“And I supposed that’s where the alcohol came from… Were you drinking as well?”
Reno vehemently shook his head in denial. “I wasn’t… I swear. I’m not that stupid.”
“That’s up for debate…” Tseng glanced over at the rookie, who by then seemed to be trying to make himself as small as possible in the seat. He didn’t seem to be lying.
“Where were you taking the girl?”
“It’s not what you think…”
“What I think is irrelevant. Answer the question.”
“I was takin’ her home,” the redhead said quickly, “Look, I know what it probably looks like, but I wasn’t gonna try anything with her. Some asshat slipped her somethin’. I… just didn’t want anything to happen to her.”
Tseng’s harsh glare softened slightly at that. It was true that he and Reno were still getting to know one another… but he’d seen enough of the younger man to know he was likely being sincere. The redhead did have something of a protective streak when it came to women. Though that one good deed didn’t change the fact that he’d stolen a car. His car.
“S-so… on a scale of mandatory guard duty ’til I’m twenty to pack your shit, I’m drop-kickin’ you back to the slums… How much trouble am I in?” Reno asked in a small voice.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Tseng said, evenly. “And I don’t intend to until I’m less likely to do something I’ll eventually regret. But you can most certainly forget about accompanying me to Costa del Sol with the president’s family next week. Rude will be taking your place on the security team.”
He knew his rookie had been looking forward to that assignment. The teenager had had so few opportunities to ever leave the city… he was always excited when such missions fell to him. And Costa del Sol would likely be akin to a working vacation.
“Yes, sir…” the redhead replied, his voice sullen and resigned. Tseng turned into the parking lot of Reno’s apartment building and pulled into an empty space.
“We’ll discuss the specifics of your punishment on Monday. I suggest you enjoy your weekend, Reno… because it’s the last one you’re going to have free for awhile.”
~fin~