Taking Care of Reno: Advent Children
Chapter 9: The Children
“… Do we even know where we’re going?” Rude asked. They’d… borrowed… a vehicle back in Edge. Apparently, being somewhat out of practice at it wasn’t enough to prevent the redhead from hotwiring a delivery truck. The were presently making their way into the ruins of Midgar.
“Tch… Really only one thing still standin’ in this sector, far as I know.” He nodded toward the crumbling steeple in the distance.
Aerith’s church. Or at least that’s what the Turks had called it for years. Ifrit only knew what the original name was. It had been lost ages ago, along with the names of the towns Midgar had been built on top of. Somehow, the building had – mostly – survived the destruction of the city. The plate above it was long gone, the neighboring structures had been reduced to rubble… and yet the church still stood, a lone monument amongst the decay.
They drove in silence for a few more minutes, careful of the debris piles. Suddenly, Rude elbowed him, and Reno braked hard. A motorcycle was parked right in front of the building. He shifted into reverse, and backed up, hiding their appropriated truck behind the remains of a stone wall.
“Whatdya think? This gonna be two on one, or ya think they’re all in there?” Reno asked.
“… Only one way to find out.”
The pair of Turks quietly slipped out of the cab of the truck, and circled around to the front of the church, careful to avoid being spotted by any sentries that might be keeping a look out. But the whole sector was strangely quiet. Save for the motorcycle, there was no indication that anyone had been here in months.
The door of the church was slightly ajar, and Reno cautiously peered inside. There was no movement within. He gestured to Rude to cover him, and slowly eased the door open enough for the two men to creep inside.
The first thing he spotted was a worn wooden pew… one of over a dozen scattered throughout the sanctuary. But this one was special. It was where he’d proposed as the world had threatened to cave in around him. The second thing he spotted was the pew next to it. It had been broken in two, as though something had collided with it with great force. He knelt beside it for a moment, examining it. The damage was recent. The jagged edges of the wood were freshly fractured… they hadn’t been exposed to the elements for long.
Reno stood, and the duo moved farther into the church, eyes scanning the shadows for threats. Midway down the center aisle, they froze, both having seen the same thing lying in the patch of flowers near the alter.
“S’pose they’re dead’?” he asked, and Rude shrugged. A few more strides brought them to the edge of the flowers. Rude dropped to one knee beside the motionless form of Tifa Lockheart, and pressed two fingers to the side of her neck.
“She’s alive. What about Strife?”
Reno looked up from his own examination. “Yep. Soldier-boy’s still breathin’, too.” He tapped the other man’s face with the palm of his hand, trying to rouse him, but whatever had happened, Cloud was out cold. “… S’pose this means we gotta take ’em with us.”
Rude nodded and calmly lifted Tifa into his arms, cradling her carefully.
“H-hey! You’re not leavin’ me to drag this asshole outta here, are ya? Rude?” he called after him, but received only a shrug in response. The redhead sighed, and hoisted Cloud off the ground as well, pulling his arm over his shoulders and half-carrying, half-dragging him back towards the entrance. “Tch… Knew he still had a thing for her,” he muttered.
“Tell me, Mr. President… Do you imagine you wield any real power?”
Rufus didn’t answer immediately. He was more concerned with figuring out just where the younger man had taken him. He wasn’t even entirely certain how they’d gotten here… let alone where ‘here’ was. Water dripped in a slow, steady cadence from the pipes that ran above his head, and the narrow corridor was dimly lit by bare bulbs. He had the distinct impression that they were underground… a basement, perhaps, or an access tunnel.
“I suppose that depends on your definition of ‘power’,” he said at last, and Kadaj chuckled mirthlessly.
“You never give a straight answer, do you, Mr. President?” He continued pushing Rufus’ chair, unhurried, down the long corridor, never varying his speed. “Mother’s power is real. And soon it will be mine. Mother will make me… will make all of her children… whole again. And I will lead them.”
“You? Are you so sure of that?” Rufus asked, “It seems to me that you’re only a surrogate.”
Kadaj brought them to an abrupt stop, and judging by the soft creak of leather near his ears, he’d just angrily clenched his gloved hands. A moment later, he started forward again.
“I am a vessel,” he replied.
It had only been suspicion until now. Back at Healin, Kadaj had shown him a glimpse of what lay beneath the surface. Now Rufus was certain. Somehow… Sephiroth lived in this creature born of Jenova.
“Hmm… and what becomes of the vessel when the mother makes it whole?”
“If you tell me where she is… perhaps I’ll let you find out,” Kadaj replied, and Rufus could practically hear the icy smile he was certain he now wore.
“Haven’t you figured it out yet? Maybe you’d like a hint… She’s in a place I couldn’t forget if I tried.”
Kadaj stopped in front of a door and stepped out from behind the chair to push it open. Ahead of him, Rufus saw a tiny, windowless space.
“We’ll see if you’re still so cryptic tomorrow morning,” he replied, and wheeled the President into the little room. Kadaj turned him around so he was facing the door, and calmly stepped back out into the corridor. “… if I don’t forget you’re here, that is.”
He turned and shut the door behind him, and Rufus was left in darkness.
“Huh… Ya know, I really woulda thought these two were fucking by now,” Reno commented, as he absently riffled through the large vanity against the wall.
“… What makes you think they’re not?” his partner asked. “And would you quit going through the drawers? Have a little respect.”
Reno snorted softly. “Says the guy who specializes in everyone else’s business. Remind me… which of us got himself an official writeup… heh… and a black eye… for sneakin’ a peak at Cissnei’s diary as a rookie? ‘Sides… I know they’re not gettin’ it on. No condoms, no toys, no lingerie. And trust me, with a rack like that, she’d have somethin’ skimpy in here if she was gettin’ some on a regular basis.”
“Not everyone has a sex drawer in their bedroom like you do.”
“S’pose you’re right…” the redhead said with a shrug. He smirked, and added, “… And for the record, we’ve had to expand things to the closet at this point.”
“… More than I needed to know, Reno.”
His grin widened noticeably. “… ‘Lena’s got this seriously hot little lace thing that she –” His grin suddenly faded, and he looked away. “… I gotta stop doin’ that,” he said softly. “I start thinkin’ about how amazing she is, and I forget for just a second that… she’s not back home waitin’ for me.”
Reno glanced over at their two unconscious allies, each lying on one of the beds. He really was a little surprised that the pair seemed to be more roommates than bedmates. He’d definitely gotten the impression that there was something between them. Particularly since they seemed to be raising two kids, if the photos he’d seen were any indication. Marlene was clearly under their care, with her own father off fuck knew where looking for oil or coal or whatever it was he was after. The other kid… a young boy… Reno didn’t recognize. Though, he supposed, it must have been the ‘Denzel’ that Marlene had mentioned at their recent encounter.
Speaking of the kids…
“Where do ya s’pose the rugrats are?” Neither Marlene nor the other child had been downstairs in the bar when they’d arrived… and they hadn’t returned in the half hour or so the two Turks had been there, either. Rude shook his head.
“… Hope they were smart enough to stay away from our new friends.”
“Yeah… me, too,” Reno agreed. He sighed. “For fuck’s sake… these two ever gonna wake up? We probably coulda caught up to the other fucker by now if we weren’t sittin’ here babysittin’.”
“… I don’t like leaving them like this.”
“Me neither. But they’re a lot safer than Rufus is right now. And ‘Lena and Tseng. Come on. They’ll be fine, and we’ve wasted enough time.”
“…” Rude silently stood and made his way over to the door. Just as the redhead reached out to open it, a sudden movement from across the room stopped him. Both Turks turned just in time to see Cloud sit up. A moment later, the man spotted Tifa and somewhat shakily got to his feet, rushing over to check on her.
“Tch… You weigh a ton, ya know,” Reno commented, and Cloud spun to face him, eyes narrowed, ready for a fight.
“Weren’t there some kids living with you?” Rude asked.
“‘Cause they ain’t here…” his partner added, with a decidedly accusing look. His meaning was clear. If Strife hadn’t walked out on Rufus… maybe this could’ve been avoided. Strife’s gaze fell to the floor, unable to meet the Turk’s eyes. He turned to look back at Tifa.
“You don’t care?” Reno asked, a little colder than necessary.
“I just…” Cloud began, only to trail off. The redhead rolled his eyes.
“Man, you’re a real pain in the ass.” He turned on his heel and and left him alone, Rude not far behind, pulling the door shut behind him. If missing kids weren’t enough to get that fucker to lend a hand, Reno didn’t know what was.
And they didn’t have time right now to stick around and try to find out.
The wind had picked up, and the waves had grown along with the gusts. The wind and the waves were no longer any of their concern, however. Elena stepped off of the dock and back onto dry land, and gave a little sigh of relief as Tseng followed.
“I suppose this is where we part ways,” Vincent said, joining the pair.
“We’ll head home ourselves as soon as possible. We’ll meet you at Healin,” Tseng replied, but the former Turk shook his head.
“I’ll warn your Turks first, and make sure what’s left of Jenova is safe… but then I’m going on to Edge. We’re going to need more help.”
“Strife?” the Turk leader assumed. Vincent nodded.
“Tifa, as well… and Reeve and his robot. And perhaps others, if they can be contacted in time.”
“Good luck, then.”
Vincent made a slight bow and was off, his long, red cape trailing behind him in the wind. Elena took hold of Tseng’s arm and began to pull him toward town.
“Come on. Let’s get you patched up, sir.”
“Quickly. The sooner we’re on our way, the better.”
“… I hope everyone’s alright,” Elena said as they made their way down the unpaved road that led from the little port to the village a short distance away.
“I’m sure they are. Likely worried sick, by now, but those two can manage quite well on their own.”
“I hope so,” she reiterated, dropping her gaze to the path at her feet.
“Something troubling you?”
Elena shook her head, and smiled. “Not really… just… I suppose I wish I’d said something to Reno as soon as I realized I might be… you know. Even if it had turned out to be nothing. At least then, he’d know. In case something happened to one of us.”
“I would normally agree with such sentiments… but in this case, I think perhaps it’s better that you didn’t.”
She looked up in surprise. “Sir?”
Tseng chuckled softly. “Reno is protective enough of you as it is. Just imagine how beside himself he would be right now if he knew you were carrying his child, as well.”
“… You’re right,” she said with a sigh. “He’d be an absolute basketcase, wouldn’t he?”
Tseng paused and took hold of her hand. “You’ll have ample time to tell him when we return.”
Elena’s smile returned, and they continued on for a few more minutes in silence. The younger Turk suddenly grinned widely.
“You know, Tseng… With Reno and I having a baby, don’t you think it’s about time that you finally thought about maybe settling down with Viridia?”
The Turk leader smirked. “And just who would babysit if I’m off spending all of my free time in Junon? Of your three options, I happen to be the only one who grew up with younger siblings. I’m fairly certain that neither Rufus nor Rude would be overly enthusiastic about changing diapers.”
“The tracks stop down there,” Rude said, his voice overly loud in Reno’s ears. The redhead turned down the volume on his headset slightly.
“Well, they didn’t just drive off into the fuckin’ ocean. And there’s no way they’re on foot. There’s fuck all for cover out here. We’d be able to see ’em.”
He circled the area where the tire tracks disappeared again, but saw nothing to indicate that any of the truck’s passengers had disembarked. Reno glanced over at his fellow Turk.
“Any ideas?”
“You saw how Kadaj got into Healin… Maybe the others can do that, too?”
“And take along a truck full of kids?” he dubiously asked. “Seems a little farfetched.”
Rude shrugged. “And turning into smoke to get through a locked door isn’t?”
“… Point taken.” He gazed through the cockpit’s windshield, out at the vast expanse of ocean to the north. “Okay… So then where the fuck’d they go?”
“Tracks lead north.”
It made sense. They’d first encountered the strange young men at the northern crater. The crater was the center of Sephiroth’s attempt to destroy the planet. They’d found what was left of Jenova in the crater and it was where Tseng and Elena had been kidnapped. Why wouldn’t that also be where their quarry was hiding out? There was just one problem…
“We searched the fuckin’ crater. We didn’t find shit.”
“… Got a better idea?”
Reno sighed. He really didn’t.
“North it is…”
~end chapter 9~
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