Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Interludes – Scene 14

Scene Notes: Reno wasn’t always as dismissive about the way Scarlet goes after him. In fact, the first time it happened was a little traumatic for the poor guy. This takes place at Christmas time when Reno was eighteen.

From Chapter 25: The Games We Play:

“The situation had ultimately resulted in Tseng taking Reno home with him rather than dropping him off at his own apartment once the rest of the party-goers had been dealt with. The eighteen year old had casually brushed off his concern, but it was obvious he was more than slightly shaken and he hadn’t even pretended to argue against the idea of sleeping in Tseng’s guest room that night. Reno really hadn’t been quite himself for days afterward, and it was only due to the long holiday break that it hadn’t affected his job performance… beyond being extremely hesitant to ever have anything to do with Scarlet again, of course. Over the years, Reno had come to be more annoyed by her attempts than traumatized by them… though it didn’t make Tseng wish any less that she would simply leave him be.”

---

He’d been silent for the entire drive. Tseng hadn’t heard so much as a peep from his rookie, and it was starting to worry him. Reno was never this quiet.

“I’m sure our own Christmas party is still going on at Veld’s… if you’d like to go back.”

“No thanks,” the redhead said softly before lapsing into silence again. Tseng frowned, and began to worry.

When he’d found him, Scarlet’d had him pressed against the wall of the elevator car, drunkenly kissing him. Her hand had been down his pants, fondling him… rather roughly, judging by the look he’d had on his face. Reno, meanwhile, had been lost. Lost and terrified. Even from a distance, Tseng could tell he was panicking… torn between self-preservation and the fact that the woman who was unapologetically molesting him was one of the company executives.

Tseng hadn’t hesitated… To hell with her seniority. He’d be damned if he was going to her do that to his rookie. He’d had to physically pull her off of the teenager… and he hadn’t been gentle about it, either. Somehow Scarlet had managed to stay on her feet, laughing maniacally, as though it was the funniest thing that had ever happened to her… it had only served to stoke the Wutaiian’s own fury, but he’d clamped down on it. Barely.

Scarlet tried the same tactic on him as well before the liquor finally got the better of her and she passed out at his feet. He didn’t bother trying to catch her. Instead, he’d gone back to the younger Turk. Reno’s hands shook noticeably as he zipped his pants back up, and moved slowly toward the unconscious woman.

Between the two of them, they had managed to tuck her into the trunk of Tseng’s car… a tight fit, to say the least. Sports cars tended not to have much in terms of cargo space. They’d taken her home, and the senior Turk had hauled her into her condo, dropping her unceremoniously onto the couch and slamming the door angrily behind him.

And now they were here… heading towards Reno’s apartment, a light snow falling on the streets of Midgar. The redhead usually loved seeing it snow. Right now, though… he didn’t even seem to notice. Waiting at a light, Tseng reached over and rested a hand on the young man’s shoulder, and he jumped violently. The senior Turk mentally kicked himself. He never should have left a rookie alone with an executive… especially Scarlet.

“Perhaps you should come home with me tonight…” he found himself saying. The thought of simply dropping Reno off and leaving him on his own didn’t sit well. He wanted him close right now.

The rookie shook his head and forced a grin. “What for? I’m fine… Nothin’ to worry about.”

Tseng studied him for a few more moments until the light changed. “You’re coming home with me tonight.” This time it wasn’t a suggestion. Traffic was non-existent… he cut across two lanes and turned in the direction of home instead. Reno didn’t argue.

They pulled into the parking lot and the redhead followed him to his door without comment. Tseng turned on the lights, taking Reno’s coat and hanging it, along with his own, on the hooks by the door. It took little effort to coax the younger man into his guest room.

Reno stood at the side of the bed, his back to the Turks second-in-command. “Get some sleep. We can talk in the morning.” He turned to go.

“Somehow managed to avoid shit like that all the years I was in Sector 2… Guess my luck finally ran out.”

Tseng turned at the sound of Reno’s voice, and closed the distance between them, resting his hand on his shoulders. He calmly urged him out of his jacket, along with most of the rest of his clothes, leaving him in only boxers and his shirt.

“Into bed,” he ordered, as gently as he could. The redhead obeyed, climbing under the covers, and curling up on his side, his back to the door.

“Tseng?” he queried in a small voice.

The Wutaiian Turk settled himself on the edge of the bed, and placed a hand between Reno’s shoulder blades, slowly stroking his back. “I’ll stay until you’re asleep. And I won’t go far after.” The younger man finally relaxed then, but Tseng continued to soothe him until he was certain he was out. He had a feeling he’d be spending the rest of his vacation undoing the damage that woman had caused.

If he’d thought he could have gotten away with it… he’d have inflicted some damage of his own on her.

~fin~