Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Chapter 20: Down to the Market

Reno glowered at Elena as she stepped into the elevator alongside him. He’d been rubbing gingerly at his right upper arm and looking very put-out… almost to the point of pouting… when she’d first stepped aboard. Now, he stood, eyes locked on her in a malevolent glare.

“W-what? What did I do?” she asked, blinking in confusion. The petulant Turk lifted a hand and removed an orange sucker from his mouth.

“Give ya three guesses where I’ve been… and three more how I got there,” he replied, in a very unamused tone. Elena broke into a fit of giggles. It had been almost a week since she’d ratted Reno out to Tseng and informed the Turk leader that the redhead was at the top of Dr. Ward’s most wanted list. Apparently, Tseng had finally made good on his threat to drag the man in to see her. “Fucking tetanus shots are always a bitch,” he muttered, lightly massaging his sore bicep.

“Aw… poor Reno…” she cooed, teasingly.

“Don’t you start with me, ‘Lena,” he grumbled, “I’m not in the mood.”

The elevator dropped them off at the Turks’ headquarters, and Elena followed Reno toward the office, grinning silently to herself.

“… Back so soon?” Rude greeted him, “You didn’t skip out on Ward after we dropped you off, did you?”

Reno growled something that sounded suspiciously like “Dropped me off, my ass,” and sat down at his desk.

“What exactly did I miss?” Elena asked. She’d left to deliver a stack of requisition forms as a favor to Tseng before Reno had come in that morning… and apparently had missed out on the fun.

“Don’t worry… I have it on video,” Rude assured her.

“Wait… What?!” Reno cried, head snapping up to look at his partner, who was smirking, “That better be a joke, Rude…”

“Back already?” Tseng interrupted, before the bald Turk could answer, slipping through the door behind Elena, “Ward really does have wrangling you down to a science these days… Reno, Rude, would you join me please? We have an… opportunity… that I’d like to take advantage of.”

Elena made her way to her desk as the two men rose and followed Tseng. She caught Rude as he walked past. “Is there really a video?” she asked, pitching her voice so Reno wouldn’t overhear. Rude chuckled softly and nodded.

---

“… Mind if I make a suggestion?” Rude asked.

“By all means,” Tseng replied. He was the first to admit that the plan he’d relayed to them had it’s flaws.

“We could do things a lot quieter if we used Elena instead.”

Until then, Reno had been slouched in the chair that sat in front of Tseng’s desk. Rude’s interjection made him suddenly sit up. “Boss… she’s come a long way, but she’s still just a rookie. I dunno if I’m comfortable with gettin’ her into somethin’ involving Corneo just yet. You know that guy’s a lot more dangerous than he lets on…”

“I tend to agree,” Tseng replied, causing Reno to relax a bit, “… but you have to admit, Rude has a point. And in this particular instance, quieter would be better for all involved. You two would be recognized almost immediately, as would I, and that will, frankly, make it significantly more difficult to do things peacefully. No one knows Elena down in Wall Market… and inserting her would be almost effortless if you can get her into the Honey Bee. Can you?”

Reno frowned. “Yeah… Yeah, I can probably get her in. Lira owes me a favor or two. Plus, I doubt she’s real happy about the situation anyway. Kid’s a friend of hers, I think. Pretty sure she’ll help us out. Just for the record, though… I don’t like this…”

“Noted,” Tseng replied. He was silent for a moment, mulling over the options. “But I think it’s far less risky overall. Get in touch with your contact. Then tell Elena.”

---

It took Reno some time to contact Lira… it always did on days she was working. He’d known the woman since they’d been teenagers. And she’d been working at the Honey Bee for almost as long as he’d known her. They’d been friends for years – friends with benefits for a short while, in fact, until she’d started working exclusively for Corneo’s brothel. These days, she was one of Reno’s more useful contacts in Wall Market, despite numerous offers on his part to get her out of the slums for old times’ sake. She seemed to know everything about everyone in the sector, and she was only too willing to pass that information along to Reno when he asked… for a price.

He finally caught her as she crept furtively out the back door of the Honey Bee Inn and lit a cigarette.

“Sneakin’ in a smoke between boyfriends? Thought management frowned on that,” he said from the shadows. The woman turned toward the sound of his voice and smiled.

“You gonna tell on me?” she asked, and walked over to him as he stepped more fully into the light. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself flush against his body seductively, and then smirked and placed a very chaste kiss on his cheek. “Reno. Where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“Busy workin’… which is why I’m here, actually. Need a favor.”

“Oh? What kind of a favor?” she purred softly next to his ear. One hand trailed down his chest, glossing gently over his stomach, and not stopping until it slipped expertly between his legs and squeezed.

“Not that kind,” he replied, biting back a groan, “Unfortunately. Ya mind? I’m on the clock…”

She laughed and removed her hand, taking a step back. “Must be serious if you’re turnin’ down a freebie…”

“Lira, nothin’ with you is ever free,” Reno chided, fondly.

“True… very true…” she said, grinning. She took a drag from her cigarette, then stubbed it out against the wall of the building. “So what can I do for my favorite redhead today?”

“Need ya to get a girl a job.”

Lira’s smile faded. “Now there’s somethin’ I wouldn’t think I’d ever be hearin’ from you,” she said, pointedly, “You don’t even like that I’m still workin’ here. You want me to help someone else get intomy line of work?”

Reno shook his head. “No… I want you to help someone get into Corneo’s place. Girl’s a Turk. He still… samples… the new merchandise, right?”

“Of course he does, the old pervert. I get caught doing somethin’ like that, though, I’ll lose more than just my job,” Lira replied, “So what’s in it for me?”

“Usual fee, plus a fifty percent bonus if ya can set it up quick. And in case that’s not sweet enough for ya… we’re lookin’ to get Talia out. Quiet as possible. Hear she’s a friend of yours.”

Lira immediately looked far more interested. “You hear right. What’s your stake in Talia?” she asked, somewhat suspiciously, “That poor thing doesn’t have anything that’d interest the Turks.”

“No… but someone else does. And their price is gettin’ Talia outta here… safe.”

“Well… I’ll admit, I don’t like the idea of her being held captive just because Corneo thinks he’s the one that managed to knock her up,” she mused, “I might be willing to help. If you can promise me that she’ll be safe after you get her out of there, too. I don’t wanna see her end up right back down here. Wall Market’s no place for a girl like her.”

“She won’t be comin’ back,” he assured her, “Deal is we get her outta Midgar entirely. She’ll be okay… you got my word on that.”

She chuckled softly. “You know, Reno… you’re probably the only person in all of Midgar I’d ever take completely at their word. So… how soon does this need to happen?”

“Soon as you can arrange it,” said Reno, before adding, “… And listen… the Turk we’re sendin’ in is still pretty green. Do me a favor, and try ‘n keep the worst of the creeps away from her ’til Corneo sends for her, huh?”

“Aww… Reno’s got a new girlfriend?” she teased.

“Reno’s got a new rookie he’s gotta take care of. She’s not a hookup.”

“New girl you’re not sleepin’ with? She must somethin’ special,” Lira commented with a soft laugh, “Alright, alright… I’ll do what I can. I’m done here at nine. Bring her by my place tonight. We’ll talk details.”

---

By the time Reno returned to headquarters, it was nearly four o’clock. Almost quitting time, any other day. He’d much rather be making plans with Rude to head out to the Phoenix Nest tonight than doing what he had to do now… because now he had to tell Elena that she was going undercover in a brothel. Alone.

He made his way to the main office, finding only Tseng present.

“We’re good in Wall Market,” he said without preamble, “Lira will get ‘Lena into the Honey Bee, and if Corneo’s true to form, she’ll be… invited… to his place the same night. I’m takin’ her down with me tonight to sort out the specifics. You tell her anything yet?”

“Nothing specific. I thought you might prefer to do it. Wall Market is sort of your area of expertise.”

“I’m still not crazy about this idea, Tseng,” Reno sighed, running a hand through his already unkempt hair.

“I know,” Tseng replied, “Though I do wonder somewhat if your concern is due more to Elena’s lack of experience or to you simply being protective of her. She is, after all, the first rookie you’ve been given sole responsibility for. One tends to become slightly more attached than usual to the first one. I know I certainly did,” He chuckled slightly, and smirked at Reno. “… Even though mine was a royal pain in my ass. And still is, on occasion.”

Reno snickered. “Not sure I have it any easier with ‘Lena, Boss…”

Tseng gave a derisive snort. “If you truly believe that, I think it may be time for a mandatory psych evaluation… You’re delusional.”

---

Reno found Elena in the Turks’ private lounge, poking at what looked like the Shinra cafeteria’s pathetic excuse for broiled chicken.

“And here I thought I was the only one who could actually stomach that crap,” Reno drawled.

Elena pushed the plate away. “I think you are,” she replied, a disgusted look on her face, “Tseng said we’re going to have a late night and I should eat something.”

“Yeah… pretty sure he meant food, not… whatever the hell that shit is,” he said with a laugh, eying the pale white lump and the sad looking vegetables that were making a valiant, but futile, effort at hiding its unappetizing appearance. “Seriously… are you sure that’s even real meat? It is supposed to be meat, right? In any case, I need to brief ya on what’s goin’ on… ’cause you’re kinda playing a big part in it.”

“I-I am?” she said, surprised.

“Yep,” he replied taking a seat next to her, and pulling the plate towards him. He shrugged and grabbed the plastic fork, shoving a bite into his mouth. “Fuck… shit tastes worse than it looks,” he muttered. Though, Elena noted, apparently it wasn’t quite awful enough to stop him from taking a second bite. And a third.

“Reno… sometimes I really do have to wonder if you’re human…” she commented. He smirked.

“I’ve never been picky. Food is food when you’re hungry enough,” he said, “… This stuff really does taste like shit, though…”

“Then why are you still eating it?” she disbelievingly queried.

“Hate seein’ food go to waste,” he shrugged, “You might have a point, though. Not sure this really qualifies as such.”

“Umm… so… the mission?” she prompted him, silently resigning herself to the fact that she’d never understand how Reno could so effortlessly choke down some of the things he ate.

“Oh, yeah… that,” he said, finally setting the fork down and nudging the plate away, “Here’s the deal. We’ve got someone willing to trade some pretty trustworthy info on the security breaches we’ve been seein’ lately. In return, they want us to rescue someone for ’em. You ever been to Wall Market?”

“The red light district in the Sector 6 slums?” she asked. Reno nodded. “No… I haven’t seen too much more of the slums than what Rude’s shown me. We’ve never gone anywhere near Wall Market…”

“Well… you’re gonna see it tonight,” he replied. The rookie’s eyes widened slightly. Reno rested his elbows on the table and propped his chin up on his hands. “The girl we’re lookin’ for is named Talia, and she’s currently a ‘guest’ of Don Corneo… and by ‘guest’, I mean she’s not allowed to leave and he’s probably been makin’ her do some things she’d rather not do. She was workin’ at the Honey Bee Inn. I’m assumin’ you know what that is…”

“Er… yeah… I have a general idea,” she said, a little uncomfortably. Everyone knew what the Honey Bee Inn was, even if most people on the Plate wouldn’t have admitted it. Some of the rumors she’d heard about the place put even Reno’s most perverted jokes to shame.

“Yeah, well… Corneo runs it, and he’s got a nice little system set up. New girls get to spend their first night at his place. Talia was one of those girls about eight months ago. Couple weeks back, Corneo had her brought back in, and hasn’t let her leave since.”

“Why?” Elena asked.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re puttin’ you on this one. She’s pregnant. Very pregnant… Corneo thinks it’s his. Hell, it might even be his, but that’s kinda beside the point. Fact is, best way to get her out is with as little violence as possible… best case scenario, we’d like to get her out of Corneo’s place and onto the Plate before he even realizes she’s gone.”

“What is it you want me to do, exactly?” she asked, feeling a bit nervous.

“Got a friend that’s gonna get you a job at the Honey Bee. That mean’s Corneo’ll be sendin’ for ya, probably the same day. Once you’re in, you find Talia, get her out of the house, and rendezvous with Tseng, me, or Rude… depending on where you manage to find an exit. It’s a big place.”

“W-why not just break in?” she stammered.

“‘Cause for one, Corneo and his men know the rest of us by sight. Any of us get spotted in, or even near, his mansion, and it’s game over. We’ll find ourselves in the middle of a firefight against fuck knows how many of his hired muscle… which isn’t exactly the best situation to have to deal with while attempting to extract a pregnant woman from a heavily guarded mansion,” Reno said, frowning, “Corneo’s also got some value to us. Tseng would rather not completely piss the guy off, ’cause he occasionally comes in handy. He’s never seen you before… doesn’t know you’re with Shinra. Ideally, we keep things that way.”

“Oh…” Elena managed.

“For another thing, the girl’s just a kid, really. She’s barely eighteen and she’s been trapped there for weeks. She’d be a lot more likely to trust another woman, and go with her quietly, than with Tseng or Rude… or even me, charming and attractive as I am,” he said with a teasing grin.

Elena rolled her eyes. “Keep telling yourself that, Reno,” she murmured.

“Oh… just for that cute little remark… you’re really gonna love this next part,” he said with a vengeful smirk, ” You’re goin’ in unarmed.”

“W-what?!” she nearly shouted.

“If they search ya and you get caught with a weapon, and you’re done,” Reno explained, “Don’t worry… we’re not sendin’ you in there a sitting duck. You’re gonna be wired, so you’ll be able to talk to me the whole time, and I got somethin’ special for ya in case of an emergency. Worst case scenario, we switch to plan B.”

“What’s plan B?” Elena asked.

“We say the hell with it and come in after ya. Tseng sorta wants to avoid that, though.”

Reno studied her for a moment. She looked uncertain… even a little scared. Not that he could blame her. This was by far the biggest assignment she’d ever been given, and it hinged largely on her not screwing up at any point along the way. That was a lot of pressure for even a seasoned Turk… much less a rookie.

“You’re gonna do fine, ‘Lena… and you’ll have all of us watchin’ from the shadows in case anything goes wrong. Ya know I always got your back. Come on… let’s go get some real food and I’ll walk ya through the layout of Corneo’s mansion,” he said, grinning.

---

Several hours later, Reno and Elena found themselves in the residential area of Sector 6. The homes here seemed just a little nicer and less ramshackle than those in many of the other slums… probably owing to the business generated by Wall Market. He led her through the winding streets, calmly passing by the locals, careful not to draw attention. Neither Turk was in uniform… the last thing they needed was word getting back to Corneo that Shinra had been snooping around. Reno stopped at a small boarding house on the corner and pulled Elena inside with him.

“Guess you’d be Lira’s friend, then,” the woman at the front desk said as they entered, looking up from the magazine she’d been reading, “Told me when the pretty redhead turns up to send him straight to her…”

“Oh… ya think I’m pretty, huh?” Reno said, smiling flirtatiously. Elena did her best to refrain from groaning out loud.

“Upstairs, second door on the left” she replied with a giggle, nodding to a staircase in the back, “And… if you’re bored later… I’m downstairs, first room on the right. You can even bring your friend there if you want…” She winked at him, and turned back to her magazine, though Elena caught her peeking up at them both through long eyelashes as Reno led her toward the stairs.

When they reached the door, Reno knocked. It was answered moments later by a young woman around Reno’s ago with short cropped black hair and hazel eyes.

“Well, hello there,” she said, coyly, as she stepped aside and ushered the two Turks into the room. It was small, but cozy. Just a single room with a sleeping area and living space. Off to one side was a door that led to a bathroom. It was cheerfully decorated in creams and pastels, and the furniture looked relatively new and comfortable.

“‘Lena, meet Lira. No one knows Wall Market better than she does,” Reno said, as soon as the door closed behind them, “Lira, this is Elena.”

The woman circled Elena, looking her over appraisingly. The rookie couldn’t help but think she was being evaluated for something… and not necessarily her role in this mission.

“Mmm… so you’re the girl Reno’s not sleepin’ with, huh?” the woman said at last. Elena wasn’t sure if she was teasing or not, but she immediately blushed, and Reno rolled his eyes. Lira giggled. “Honey, you don’t know what you’re missin’…”

“For fuck’s sake, Lira… we’ve been here less than thirty seconds,” the redhead said, chuckling.

“Oh, you’re no fun at all, tonight, Reno,” she said, before turning to Elena, “Alrighty then, straight to business… I talked to the management, and told them I knew someone who needed work. They were ecstatic. We’re short on redheads at the moment.”

“But… I’m blonde,” Elena pointed out.

“Not for long,” she replied, grinning.

---

Reno laid back on the couch, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. How fucking long was this going to take?

“Oh, Reeeenoooo…” a voice called impishly from the bathroom door. He glanced over toward the source of the summons. “I think I’ve found your long-lost twin…” Lira said, grinning at him, “She’s almost as cute as you are.”

She stepped aside and waved Elena out into the room.

“So? What do you think?” Elena asked, showing off her freshly dyed hair. Reno sat up, laughing. It was nearly the same unusually vibrant shade as his own, and he doubted that was an accident.

“Not a bad look for ya, ‘Lena… Always wanted a sister…” he replied. Elena joined him on the couch, as Lira walked over to her closet.

“‘Course you still need something to wear tomorrow for your interview. You’re pretty much in already, but Rosa likes to chat with all the new girls first… make sure they really know what they’re gettin’ themselves into…” She leafed through the collection of garments, and finally pulled out a short, pale blue dress. “This one might look pretty…” she mused, “What do you think, Reno?”

He shrugged. “I’ve always thought ‘Lena looks especially nice in green, personally… I dunno with the red hair, though. Green sure as fuck isn’t my color. Makes me look like a damn Christmas ornament…”

Elena snickered, and Lira began laughing so hard that for a moment she couldn’t speak.

“Oh… Oh, Reno… Thank you so much for putting that image in my head,” she said, still giggling. She finally calmed herself, ignoring the man’s glare. “Maybe just black, then? Hard to go wrong with that…” She pulled out a black skirt and halter top. “Here,” she said, handing both outfits to Elena, “Why don’t you try them both on and we’ll see which looks better on you.”

Some time later, Elena had modeled both sets of clothes – several times – and Reno and Lira were practically at one another’s throats arguing over them.

“She’s wearin’ the blue one,” Reno said, firmly.

“She looks sexier in the black,” Lira countered, “She’s workin’ the Honey Bee, not selling flowers.”

“Yeah, well, she’s also not tryin’ to compete for customers. She just has to blend in for a few hours. I don’t want her drawin’ any more attention than necessary…”

“She’ll be taking it off as soon as her interview’s over… They’ll put her in one of those silly bee outfits anyway!”

“Wait… What?” Reno asked, looking slightly alarmed, and Elena wondered what they were talking about. Bee outfits?

“You know… The bee outfits. New girls always start out workin’ the front entrance and the main floor. What, you thought I’d be able to just stick her in the back room and hide her all day? Sorry, Reno, but that’s not gonna happen. She wants to get into Corneo’s place, she’s gotta work.”

Elena swallowed nervously as she saw Reno go slightly pale.

“I thought I told ya…” he began, only to be cut off.

“Oh, would you relax,” Lira said with a smirk, “She’s not gonna be workin’ any of the rooms. Just advertising and greeting. You actually have Corneo to thank for that, ironically enough. He wants ’em all to himself before the customers get their hands on ’em.”

Some of the tension in Reno’s posture eased. “… Fine… go with the black one if ya have to,” he grumbled, conceding the argument. He glanced at the clock by Lira’s bed. It was nearly one in the morning.

“You two can stay here tonight if you don’t mind the couch or the floor,” Lira said, following his gaze. She smirked, and ran a finger along Reno’s jawline. “I’d offer to share with you, but the bed’s a single… and I have busy day tomorrow.”

“Go ahead and take the couch, ‘Lena,” Reno sighed, “I got the floor.”

Lira wrapped an arm around Elena’s shoulders. “Ever the gentleman, our Reno, huh, Elena?” she said with a grin.

“‘Course I could always take the girl downstairs up on her offer…” Reno retorted, suggestively.

“Yeah… Right up until he opens his mouth,” Elena said to the woman. Lira laughed.

---

“Dammit ‘Lena, hold still… I can’t get it in with you movin’ like that,” Reno growled.

“W-wait, it’s too… Ow! That hurts!”

“Just relax a second, I almost – There. It’s in.”

“C-can you pull it out a little? It feels like it’s in too far…”

“Better?”

Elena gave a sigh of relief and relaxed, as the door opened and Lira slipped back into her little boarding house room.

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything,” the woman said, smiling lasciviously, “Sounded like things were getting a little hot and heavy between you two…”

The rookie was laying with her head on Reno’s lap, rubbing at her right ear as her compatriot sniggered shamelessly as it occurred to him what that conversation must have sounded like.

“Inner ear receiver,” he explained, “Completely invisible, but not the easiest thing to put in place. Though it’s a lot less of a pain in the ass if ya fuckin’ hold still. And quit pokin’ at it.”

“It feels… weird,” Elena replied, sitting up. Lira set down the bags she was carrying, and Elena caught the scent of bacon.

“You’ll get used to it. Tell me that’s food,” Reno said, turning toward his friend.

“It is,” said Lira, and Reno immediately darted for the table. The woman slapped his hand as he reached for one of the bags. “That’s for all of us… and I know you. I turn my back for five seconds, it’ll vanish without a trace. Sit!” She pointed to the couch he’d just vacated. Reno grudgingly complied. “Now finish whatever you were doin’ to that poor girl, and then I’ll feed ya.” With that, she began to unpack the contents of the bags.

Reno sighed and turned back to Elena, pulling a slender case from his breast pocket.

“This is the other half of the radio”, he said, opening it. Inside was a pair of silver earrings. They were simple, small hoops with no patterning or decoration. “Put those on, and pay attention to which one has the black stripe along the inside. That’s the one with the mic and the switch for the transmitter.”

Elena easily found the one he was talking about. She took off her own earrings, replacing them with the ones Reno had given her.

“Now what?” she asked.

“The switch is right along the back edge, near the post. Run your nail along it til it catches, and push in to turn it on. Same to shut it off.”

She did so and twitched slightly as the receiver in her ear gave a short burst of static. Reno, meanwhile, had donned an over the ear headset.

“Can ya hear me?” he asked. Elena jumped as his voice was echoed slightly out of sync with real time by the receiver.

“Yes,” she replied. Reno nodded, satisfied that her microphone was picking up her voice as well.

“Alright, turn it off for now,” he said, and Elena did so, “Battery’s only good for about four hours, so don’t activate it until you’re taken to Corneo’s place.”

“I thought you said I’d be able to talk to you the whole time…” Elena said, nervously.

“Well… the whole time you’re at Corneo’s, yeah. ‘Til ya get there, though, you’re gonna have to manage without me. Lira’ll look after ya, though, don’t worry. Besides… I won’t be far off. And…” he continued, drawing out a second case, “… I managed to requisition one of these for ya from Scarlet. Don’t even ask what I had to do to get her to give it to me…”

Inside was a silver pendant holding what looked like a deep red stone… but on closer inspection, Elena realized that it wasn’t a stone at all. It was a glass phial containing a blood-red liquid.

“Emergency use only,” Reno stressed, “Crush the capsule, and you’ve got about ten seconds to get the fuck outta the general area or take a really deep breath. After that, it reacts with the air and creates a very potent sleeping gas that’ll knock a guy out for hours…” He flicked a lock of crimson hair out of her face. “Picked the right color, anyway…” he smirked, and fastened the pendant around her neck before escorting the rookie over to the table. Breakfast was waiting.

Lira bent over and studied the necklace. “Mmm… you do have good taste in accessories…” she agreed, “Don’t suppose you could get me one? I could see somethin’ like that coming in handy…”

“Heh… Sorry, Lira… but I’m not facin’ Scarlet a second time,” he said, shuddering as he started in on his breakfast, “Once was bad enough. That woman’s got it out for me…”

“Jilted lover?” asked Lira as she took as seat as well, and Elena couldn’t help herself. She dissolved into a fit of silent laughter at the expression that suddenly came across Reno’s face.

Reno, meanwhile, very nearly choked. “Fuck, no…” he finally managed.

---

Tseng answered his PHS on the first ring.

“Everything alright?” he asked.

“Fine. Just an update. ‘Lena’s on her way to the Honey Bee now,” Reno replied over the phone, “and I’m movin’ to my first surveillance position.”

“How is she?”

“Nervous,” the redhead said, his tone serious, “I think she’ll be alright, though.”

“Good. I’m leaving for Wall Market now. Rude is already in position, watching Corneo’s mansion. He hasn’t seen any sign of the girl yet… but he doesn’t really expect to. One of his informants says they’re keeping a tight leash on her. Apparently, she’s tried to run once or twice already.”

“I’ll pass that along to ‘Lena when we’re back in contact. Should make things easier if the kid is still tryin’ to get away instead of just givin’ up.”

“Indeed it should. Contact me again when they come for Elena. Let’s keep things quiet until then,” said Tseng.

“Understood,” Reno replied, ending the call. He couldn’t blame Tseng for wanting to be careful about communications. A conversation overheard by the wrong person could jeopardize everything. He slipped out of Lira’s room, and down the back staircase of the boarding house and into an alley. Pulling up the hood of his sweatshirt, he made his way towards the Honey Bee Inn. He’d already staked out and secured a room in a building across from the brothel. One nice thing about Wall Market… if you needed a room for a few hours, there were plenty to be found… no questions asked, since the answers were already assumed.

This particular room, he noted as he let himself inside, had a near-perfect view of the Honey Bee Inn’s entrance. He settled in near the window, opening it wide so he could hear the general goings-on in the street below, and then sat back so the curtains concealed him. Reno drew his sidearm and checked the magazine. On the whole, he much preferred his mag-rod… the EMR let a you get so much more personal… but today he needed to be able to attack from a distance if need be. He left the weapon unholstered and within easy reach on the narrow table beside the window.

He stayed like that, for the most part, for the better part of an hour. Reno stretched and leaned back in the chair. Surveillance sucked… he hated being still and quiet for so long. He sighed and rolled his eyes at the sounds coming through the wall from the room next door.

“Hate ta break it to you pal, but she’s totally fakin’ it,” he muttered softly, returning his gaze to the scene outside.

Suddenly, something finally caught his attention. Lira appeared in the doorway, dressed in skin-tight black and yellow. Reno smirked… she’d always hated those stupid outfits. By now, she’d been around long enough she could usually get out of what she termed “bug duty” and pawn it off on someone who owed her a favor. Apparently, today she’d come up short on favors.

Or maybe not… She motioned to someone behind her, and a moment later, a flash of red caught his eye as Elena emerged beside her. Reno’s eye twitched as he realized she was dressed in the same ridiculously revealing outfit as Lira, her dyed hair making her stand out even more than she would have otherwise. The two girls that had been lingering around the entrance for the past hour grinned and slipped back inside, Elena and Lira taking their places.

He kept a close eye on the two women for awhile, noting that Elena was gradually becoming slightly less obviously uncomfortable… though he had no doubt she would have jumped at the chance to get out of the spotlight had it been offered to her. Several of the Honey Bee’s patrons seemed to be paying her far more attention than Reno would have liked as they made their way in, and he glared coldly in their general direction.

When one of them grabbed her, hands reaching for things no decent man would reach for in public, Reno’s hand went immediately to his gun. The weapon was leveled, aimed and his finger had tensed dangerously on the trigger by the time Lira intervened, escorting the man inside.

Reno ground his teeth and forced himself to relax his grip, slowly lowering the weapon… but not, it seemed, before Elena had caught a glimpse of of it. Her eyes were on his window, though he was certain all she could see from her position now were the curtains.

He glanced at his watch. “Just a few more hours, ‘Lena,” he said quietly, though he wasn’t sure if that was meant as an attempt to reassure the rookie – through sheer force of will – or himself. He’d seen far too many people become victims in Wall Market over the years. The idea of Elena on her own down there, unarmed, and… dressed like that… left him feeling decidedly uncomfortable and restless.

---

“Good news, Elena… our first door shift’s up,” Lira said with a sigh of relief as two new girls exited the Honey Bee in costume. “Time for a break.”

“Thank goodness,” the rookie Turk sighed, grateful to finally be able to get away from the stares and leers of men passing by on the street. It really was an awful feeling. She followed Lira back into the Honey Bee, casting one last glance up at the window on the second floor of the building across the street. She was almost certain Reno was there… she felt a little less self-conscious knowing that, for some reason.

Lira led her through the main foyer and into the back, where customers weren’t allowed, and into one of the large dressing rooms. The woman took a seat in one of the makeup chairs.

“Ugh, I fucking hate bug duty,” she groaned, and Elena laughed quietly as she made herself comfortable on the long couch on the back wall. “So… how ya holdin’ up? Reno said you’re kind of a newbie with the Turks… so I’m guessin’ you haven’t had to do anything quite like this before.” She smirked when Elena looked up at her, alarmed. “Relax… no one’s gonna hear us back here. Walls are sound proof so us girls don’t have to listen to what’s goin’ on out there when we’re on break. Get enough of that while we’re workin’.”

“I’m okay,” Elena replied, relaxing a bit, “So… can I ask you something?”

“Now I’d bet that ‘something’ is one of two questions… ya either wanna know how long I’ve been doin’ this, or you wanna know why I do it…” Lira said with a grin.

“A-actually… I kind of wanted to know how you met Reno,” she answered, “I mean, he doesn’t really seem like the type who’d have to… um…” She trailed off, uncertain whether or not what she’d intended to say would be overly insulting to the woman.

Lira laughed so hard she nearly slid off the chair.

“Oh, honey… the day Reno’s gotta pay for it is the day I finally give in and move up to the Plate,” she snickered, “He’s not a customer and never has been. That’s not to say I don’t know every inch of that pretty little body of his. But I knew Reno way before I turned pro and started workin’ for Corneo.”

“You did?” Elena asked. Somehow, it didn’t exactly surprise her to know that Lira and Reno were lovers… half of Shinra Company could make that claim… but she hadn’t considered the possibility that it went beyond that.

“Sure… We both grew up over in Sector 2. Met him when he was about… fourteen, fifteen, maybe? Couple of years before Shinra snapped him up, anyway. I was only a year or two older, myself. I’d seen him around before that, of course… he’s hard to miss… but didn’t really know him well ’til then. He kinda came to my rescue when my Pop got a little rougher than usual with me. Got himself a nasty black eye and a bloody nose for the trouble, too… and he’s lucky that’s all he walked away with. Pop was about three times his size. Didn’t seem to matter to Reno, though.”

Elena smiled shyly. “I guess he’s always been the protective type, then.”

“It’s a rarity in Sector 2,” she said, nodding, “Plenty of decent folks down there… but most of ’em are too busy watchin’ their own asses to worry about someone else’s. Anyway… I went home with Reno, cleaned him up a little, and… well, one thing usually leads to another in situations like that.” She chuckled fondly at the memory. “Poor thing hardly knew what to do with himself.”

“W-what?” Elena asked, suddenly blushing. This was getting a little more interesting than she’d been expecting. Lira grinned widely.

“Mmm, I got one claim on Reno no one else in the world can make,” she replied, teasingly.

Elena was certain she turned bright red as she realized what the woman was implying. “Y-you mean…”

“Oh, yeah… thoroughly deflowered that sweet, innocent boy,” Lira said, her grin widening even more. While Elena was trying desperately to think of a way to change the topic of conversation to something a little less awkward, Lira was giggling madly. “Sorry… was that more than you wanted to know?” she asked, “Around here, we’ve heard it all, so I barely think twice about sayin’ things like that. And judging by the look on your face… and the fact that it kinda matches your hair now… I’m thinkin’ you’re probably not quite as used to it as I am. Even workin’ with Reno.”

“Uhhh…” Elena tried, not quite sure what to say.

“Ah, don’t worry about it,” Lira said, dismissively, “We can always talk about somethin’ other than Reno’s virginity… or lack thereof.” She gave Elena a quick wink. “Don’t ‘spose you watch Shadow & Sword?”

The rookie perked up at that. “You’re a Swordie?” she blurted out in surprise.

“Guess that’s a yes,” Lira stated, approvingly, “Knew there was somethin’ I liked about you… So… Ya see last Sunday’s episode?”

---

Hours later, Elena groaned as she wrenched the stiletto heels off her feet and sat down in the dressing room. After their break, she and Lira had spent the rest of the day alternating between the lobby and the front door. It had been long, relentless, and slightly humiliating… and she was grateful it was over.

“Get yourself changed,” Lira said, rushing through the door, “Just heard Kotch is on his way. He’s the one who’ll be takin’ you over to Corneo’s place.”

Elena stood, wincing slightly as her feet protested sharply, and hurried to change back into the black skirt and top Lira had loaned her.

“Haven’t been there in awhile myself…” Lira continued, “but if things haven’t changed, they’ll leave ya pretty much alone in a room until the Don decides he wants ya. They’ll tell you not to wander around, but just so ya know… they’re not allowed to touch you without Corneo’s say-so unless you cause serious trouble.”

“Thanks,” she said, glad for the advice, “Anything else I should know?”

“Yeah… Stay away from the basement,” the woman replied, seriously, “Trust me… if you don’t have to go down there… don’t.”

Lira hustled her out of the dressing room and into the main foyer. A dark skinned man with a blonde mohawk was waiting.

“That’s Kotch,” she whispered, “You take care, ‘kay?”

“You the new girl?” the man said, sounding bored. Elena nodded. “Don Corneo wants to meet ya. Come with me.”

---

Reno dialed Tseng’s phone the moment Elena appeared in the Honey Bee Inn’s doorway with Kotch.

“Tseng here,” the Turk leader’s voice replied.

“She’s headin’ for Corneo’s,” he said, eyes locked on the pair down in the street below.

“We may have a problem. They’re watching the exits. Very closely,” said Tseng. Reno swore under his breathe. That was all they needed.

“What should I tell ‘Lena?” he asked.

“It doesn’t look like they’ve got eyes on the drainage pipe. If she can get the girl to the basement, it may be as simple as walking right out.”

“And if she can’t?”

“Rude and I will stay in our current positions to assist. I’ll cover your original position. You take the pipe.”

“On it,” Reno affirmed.

The redhead ended the call and hurried out of the room, heading for the street. He doubted very much that Elena would be in any danger from Kotch. Not yet, at least. Corneo’s top lackey was the loyal sort… he wouldn’t do anything without his boss’ go-ahead. Still… he wasn’t about to let the rookie out of his sight when he didn’t have to. Moments later, he was shadowing the two of them from a safe distance. As he moved, he slipped his communications headset on, hiding it with his hood. He didn’t know when Elena would have a chance to activate hers, but he didn’t want to miss it when she did.

It wasn’t a long journey. Reno watched from an alley as Elena was escorted into the huge mansion, frowning as she disappeared from view, then turned and headed for the nearest sewer entrance.

---

Elena looked around at the garishly decorated foyer, and somehow refrained from cringing at the sight. She’d thought the Honey Bee Inn’s lobby had been tacky. This took it to a whole new level. The place looked like Wutai and the Gold Saucer had collided and spawned some sort of bizarre theme hotel.

Kotch led her up the stairs and showed her into a small room.

“The boss’ll call ya in when he’s ready for ya,” he said, “Meantime, stay here and don’t go wanderin’ around.”

With that, he left her on her own. Elena hesitantly sat down, making sure she was really alone, and reached for her earring, running her nail along it until she found the little indentation that would activate her radio. She pressed inward, and heard a faint buzz of static for a moment.

“Reno?” she said quietly.

“About damn time…” the redhead’s voice greeted her, sounding small and far away through the tiny receiver in her ear. She almost laughed in sheer relief at the sound. “You alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, keeping her voice low.

“Where are you right now?”

“Some kind of lounge… just off the main foyer,” she said.

“Alright… got some intel for ya from Rude. Seems our girl has been tryin’ to escape on her own. Unfortunately, she got herself caught, and now they’re watchin’ her and the exits a lot closer,” Reno relayed to her, “Tseng says there’s one they’re not watchin’ though, far as he can tell from out here… probably ’cause it’s not so much a exit as it is a sewer tunnel… Hate ta say it, but that’s probably gonna be your best bet.”

“You seriously want me to try and convince a pregnant woman to climb into a sewer?” she asked, somewhat incredulously.

“Just sayin’… the other exits are covered,” he replied, “Rude and Tseng are watchin’ ’em, just in case you end up havin’ to use them instead, but the sewer’s wide open. I’d try very hard to get her down there.”

“O-okay… How do I even get to it, though? It wasn’t on the plans you showed me,” Elena queried.

“There’s a drain in the basement,” Reno said, “It’s locked down, but I’m headin’ there now. I’ll get it open for ya.”

‘Of course it’s in the basement…’ Elena thought to herself. Naturally, it would be in the one place Lira had specifically warned her to steer clear of.

“For now, though, just focus on locating your target,” Reno continued, “Gotta find the kid first. Then we’ll worry about gettin’ her out. Keep your radio on so I can hear what’s happening.”

“Got it,” she replied.

Elena stood and crept towards the door, trying the handle, and was a little shocked to discover that it was unlocked. She opened it a crack and peered out. There was no sign of Kotch on the upper level, though she could hear someone moving around downstairs. She slipped silently into the hall.

---

Reno grimaced as a slimy wetness began to seep into the top of his boot. The water in the tunnel was gradually getting higher the farther in he ventured. It had just reached ankle-depth, and he could feel his socks quickly becoming waterlogged. Between that and being forced into an uncomfortable sort of half crouch by the low ceiling, he would be glad when this job was finished. And of course… there was the smell, which he was trying very hard not to think too much about.

He hoisted the heavy crow bar he’d ‘borrowed’ from the junk shop over one of his shoulders and aimed his flashlight down the narrow tunnel. Its beam reflected off of the surface of the murky water, casting patterns of waves on the concrete walls. It couldn’t be much farther… He’d already gone at least a few hundred feet.

A faint glint caught his eye farther down, and he clicked off the light. Reno grinned to himself as, instead of being plunged into complete darkness, he found himself staring at a faint glow emanating from the ceiling another fifty feet ahead of him, and he quickened his pace.

Finally standing beneath the grate, he looked up. He couldn’t see much from that angle, but spied a heavy wooden table to the right, and could just make out the foot of the stairs straight ahead. The grate itself was hinged on either side, opening in the center, and was secured with a heavily rusted lock and chain.

‘Hmph… Too easy,’ he thought, smugly, as he slid the crowbar beneath the chain. The thing was so old, it would probably snap on the first pull. He hauled down hard on the bar, readying himself for it to give way… and looked up in surprise when it didn’t. He glared at the chain, and tried again, with the same results. On his third attempt, he put the entirety of his weight into the effort, hanging from the crowbar.

“You have got to be shittin’ me…” he muttered, grunting softly as he let himself drop back down.

“Reno? What’s wrong?” Elena’s voice whispered, concerned, over his headset.

“Nothin’…” he growled, “I got this…”

He gripped the crowbar with both hands and swung himself up, bracing his feet against the ceiling, straining against it as hard as he could.

---

Elena jumped as a sudden splash, followed by a lengthy string of profanity, spewed forth from her radio receiver.

“Reno?!” she whispered as loud as she dared. She was met only with the sound of more splashing, followed by coughing and what sound like gagging, followed by more swearing.

“Gah… I’m fine,” Reno finally said, sounding utterly disgusted, “I’m just going to have to sanitize my… everything… later. The fucking drain’s open now, by the way.”

She couldn’t quite suppress a quiet snicker.

“Shut the hell up, ‘Lena,” Reno replied, not amused.

If nothing else, his response eased some of the tension that had been building in her since arrival at Corneo’s mansion. Elena slowly made her way around the upper level, trying the various doors, in search of her target. Most seemed to be unlocked, though empty. One, very obviously, was the entry to Corneo’s own room, and she carefully avoided it. Behind another, she could clearly hear Kotch’s voice speaking to at least one other man. Eventually, though, she found a locked door.

Elena pressed her ear to the wood, listening for any sound from within, but heard nothing. She crouched down, and peered through the keyhole. She could see a bed on the far side, and some other furniture, but beyond that, the room appeared to be empty.

Suddenly, there was a flurry of movement, and Elena unexpectedly found her view of the room replaced by another eye. With a gasp, she skittered backwards in shock, just barely catching herself before she fell over entirely.

“W-who’s there?” a frightened voice called from behind the door. The rookie Turk hurried back to her former position.

“Talia?” she replied, keeping her voice down, “Are you Talia?”

“Y-yes…” the girl answered her, hesitantly, “Who are you?”

“My name is Elena,” the Turk said, “I’m going to get you out of here.”

But first she’d have to get that door open. That, thankfully, was one task she was prepared for. She started to reach for one of the pins holding her hair back. It wasn’t the best way to pick a lock, but she’d manage.

“Hey… Thought I told you no wandering!” a voice called out behind her. Elena spun to face the owner of the voice, coming face to face with Kotch. “Eh, whatever… Don Corneo’s ready for ya now. Come with me.”

“I… uh…” she began.

“Don’t start anything that’s gonna draw attention… Corneo’s got more guys than just Kotch hangin’ around. Wait ’til you get an opening,” Reno cautioned her over the radio.

“Hurry up already,” Kotch muttered impatiently. Elena quickly did as commanded, and fell into step behind the man. She trailed behind him all the way back to the door she had studiously ignored earlier in her search. He pushed it open and motioned her inside. Instead of following, he simply shut the door behind her.

“Oh ho… So you’re the new little chicky over at the Honey Bee!” a gleefully high-pitched voice called out from across the room, “What’s your name, baby?”

“Elena?” she replied, uncertainly. Don Corneo wasn’t much taller than she was. Balding, with a wisp of blond hair combed into something resembling a mohawk, he leered at her unapologetically, cigar dangling from his lips. He was easily one of the most repulsive men she’d ever seen, and his eyes seemed to rove over her entire body. Elena found herself suddenly wishing she’d listened to Reno and gone with the slightly less revealing blue dress that morning. Corneo rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

“Oh, we are going to have one hell of a night,” he said, “Redheads are always such fun in bed!”

“It’s true… we are…” Reno commented, somewhat teasingly in her ear, “… but watch yourself. Guy might not look like much, but he didn’t get to be in charge down here on account of his good looks.”

Corneo suddenly covered the distance between them faster than she’d thought someone of his build could possibly have moved. The next thing she knew, his arm was around her waist, one hand lewdly pawing at her backside, the other having taken hold of the cigar, as he planted a kiss on her lips.

“Mmph!” Elena squeaked in surprise as she instinctively tried to push him away, disgusted; he tasted like ashes and alcohol. The man was deceptively strong, however, and held her fast. Corneo laughed and pulled back.

“Oh yeah… lot’s of fun,” he grinned lecherously.

---

Reno growled low in his throat as he listened in on what was going on in Corneo’s room. More than anything, he wanted to ditch the goddamned sewer pipe and rip Corneo a new one. It wasn’t like the guy wouldn’t deserve it. The man was a pig who treated women like a commodity… something the redhead took rather personal issue with. The fact that it was Elena who was being treated like that right now only made him angrier.

He had his orders, though. Tseng didn’t want anyone but Elena seen if it was at all avoidable… and odds were pretty good he’d run into someone between the basement and Corneo’s room, even if he was exceptionally careful.

“Com’ere you little minx, you!” Corneo’s voice cried over his headset, and Reno cringed. He could hear what sounded like rapid footsteps, as if Elena were being chased. Suddenly, there was a soft thud and the squeak of bedsprings, and Elena squealed. “Ha! Gotcha!” the man cackled.

“‘Lena?!” he tried, though she likely wouldn’t be able to answer him at the moment without drawing suspicion.

“Mmm… oh, you smell nice,” Coreno groaned so close to Elena’s microphone, it was almost as if he were right next to Reno, “Oh ho… are these real?! They feel real… Let’s just take this off so I can get a better look at whatcha got to offer…”

If it had gone much farther, Reno would have been out of the tunnel and up the stairs in record time… fuck Tseng and his desire to stay on Corneo’s good side. He’d be damned if he was going to sit idly by while the bastard was in there feeling her up. He’d promised Elena that he’d watch out for her, and that was a promise he intended to keep. But a moment later, everything went silent. In fact, he briefly thought the mic had cut out entirely, until a loud thump echoed over the radio.

“‘Lena?” he tried again, “‘Lena… what’s going on?”

He could hear footsteps again, hurried but not panicked, and with the distinctive click of heels… It had to have been Elena. But why didn’t she talk to him?

“‘Lena… for fuck’s sake, answer me!” he hissed. The sound of a door opening, and then closing again, was followed by a gasp, and several seconds of heavy breathing.

“‘Lena?”

“I’m here…” she replied at last, sounding a little short of breath, “I’m okay…”

“What happened?” he asked.

“I used the knockout gas on Corneo…” she said, “He’s out cold.”

That explained why she hadn’t been able to answer him immediately. She’d been holding her breath to avoid succumbing to the gas herself.

“Good work… Now let’s get the kid, and get you both the fuck outta there,” he instructed.

---

Elena hurried toward the door where she’d left Talia, careful to keep an eye out for anyone roaming the halls. If she were seen now, things would probably go downhill pretty quickly. Thankfully, Talia’s room wasn’t far, and Kotch seemed to have retreated again to wherever Corneo’s men vanished to when they weren’t needed. Moments later, she was working at getting the door to Talia’s room open.

She huffed in frustration as the stubborn lock refused to budge. “This would be a lot easier with a real pick,” she muttered, as she tried again.

“Quit hurryin’, ‘Lena. You’re always in a rush,” Reno replied in her ear, “Just take it slow and stop thinkin’ about it so much.”

“Easy for you to say… you’re not trying to pick a lock with a damn hairpin,” she whispered back.

“Tch… I could do it in twenty seconds flat,” Reno bragged. The worst part, Elena decided, was that the man probably could. In fact, twenty seconds was likely a little on the conservative side. She’d never seen anyone open a lock faster than Reno.

“Yeah? Then you come up here and do it,” Elena replied, as the lock gave a sharp snap and the knob suddenly turned freely in her hand. Elena blinked, a little surprised she’d managed it so quickly. “Oh… er… nevermind.”

“Told ya you just needed to quit thinkin’ about it…” Reno said smugly. She didn’t reply, instead pushing the door open and slipping inside. Movement to her right instinctively made her duck… and it was a good thing, too. A heavy ceramic vase hit the wall bare inches from where her head had been.

“O-oh! Oh, no… I… I’m sorry! I thought you were Kotch or one of his men!” a voice gasped from a darkened corner.

“It’s okay, Talia…” she said, with a slightly relieved sigh, “Come on… we’re getting out of here.”

The young woman stepped out of the shadows, frightened gray eyes staring at Elena. She was young, as Reno’d said… frankly, she didn’t even look the eighteen years he’d claimed she was. Her honey-blonde hair was pulled back in a waist-length braid, and her hand rested protectively over her very pregnant belly.

“How? I’ve tried running away twice already… the second time, they were watching every door I was able to get to,” she said, “That’s when they started locking me in my room all day.”

“There’s a way out in the basement. We just have to…” Elena began, and Talia immediately went pale.

“N-no… I’m not going down there…” she said, terror evident in her voice, “I’m never going back down there. There isn’t any way out down there. All that’s down there is…” She whimpered softly, unable to finish whatever she’d intended to say.

Elena moved a few steps closer to the girl until she could take her hand. “You have to trust me,” she said, “We can get out if we can just make it to the basement. A friend of mine is already there, waiting for us. He got in the same way we’re getting out.”

Talia shook her head, backing away.

“‘Lena… tell her Lira sent you. They’re close,” Reno offered.

“Talia… please, trust me,” Elena pleaded, “I’m here because Lira wants to help you.”

“You… know Lira?” Talia asked, timidly. The Turk nodded.

“She’s the one that helped me get in here so I could find you,” Elena replied, “Now, we have to hurry, okay?”

Talia still looked uncertain. “Do we really have to go through the basement?” she queried.

“I know you don’t want to, but it’s the only way out that isn’t being watched,” the Turk said, “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, I promise… but we need to go.”

Talia took a shaky breath and seemed to steady herself a bit. “O-okay… Let’s go,” she said at last. Elena smiled and turned to the door, peering into the hallway. The coast was clear, for the moment, at any rate, and she waved for Talia to follow her.

“Nice work…” Reno’s voice congratulated her, “Remind me to have you try and convince Tseng I need some extra vacation time when we get back.”

Elena bit back a retort… but only because Talia was nervous enough as it was, and she really didn’t want to try to explain to the girl why she was apparently talking to herself.

“Don’t get too complacent, though,” he cautioned, tone turning serious, “You still gotta get yourselves down here. Elena stopped in her tracks, as a pair of shadows appeared farther down the hallway.

“How much longer we gotta keep feeding her in her room anyway?” a male voice groused, obviously annoyed.

“‘Til the boss says otherwise.” That voice Elena recognized. It was Kotch. “Ah, hell…”

“Now what?”

“I forgot the damn key,” Kotch replied, “Wait here… I’ll be right back.” His footsteps faded, but Elena could still see the silhouette of the other man against the wall.

“Don’t move,” Elena whispered to Talia.

“If you’re gonna take him out, better do it in one. He raises the alarm, we’re gonna have a problem,” Reno’s voice said.

“Ah, fuck this… I got better things to do. Kotch can feed the bitch himself,” the man suddenly muttered. There was a quiet rattle as he set something down, followed by retreating footsteps. Elena crept forward, careful to stay hidden as she peaked around the corner. A tray of food had been left on a side table, but neither Kotch nor the other man were in sight.

“Hurry!” she whispered as loudly as she dared, motioning Talia forward. The girl was moving as quickly as her current condition would allow. All they had to do was make it to the stairs. They were almost home free.

Almost.

“Hey! Where the hell do ya think you’re goin’?” Kotch yelled from the opposite end of the hall just as they reached the steep staircase leading into the basement.

“Go!” Elena said, nudging Talia forward, “I’ll be right behind you.”

The girl hesitated a moment, but at a second look from the Turk, she started down. Elena readied herself for a fight.

---

Reno hoisted himself out of the tunnel and into the room. If Elena was sending the girl on ahead, best that someone was there to meet her. He scowled as he got his first unimpeded look at what was actually in the basement. He’d always known Corneo was a twisted bastard, but this really was more than he’d thought the man was capable of.

It was a fucking torture chamber. Chains, whips, spikes, cages, and god only knew what else… Corneo’s own private dungeon of pain. No wonder the kid didn’t want to come down here. He hoped the girl had only been shown the accoutrements and threatened… hoped that she didn’t know from experience what the sick fuck did down here. Somehow he doubted she was that lucky.

Reno looked away from the leather cuffs – and their disturbing stains – fastened to the heavy table in the center of the room just as the girl reached the bottom of the stairs. She let out a soft shriek of surprise when she saw him, and almost turned to run.

“Relax kid, I’m part of the rescue party,” he said, moving toward her with purpose, “Any time now, ‘Lena… I got the girl.” By the sounds coming through the headset, and what he could hear echoing down the stairs, the rookie seemed to be holding her own… for now at least. Reno grabbed Talia by the arm and led her toward their escape route.

“Don’t wait… she doesn’t move very fast. I’ll catch up,” Elena responded, as Reno turned his full attention to the girl.

“Down there?” she asked in a frightened voice.

“‘Fraid so,” the redhead replied, grinning slightly, “Don’t worry… I’m not lettin’ anything happen to ya. Lira’d castrate me if I did.”

That seemed to calm her somewhat. He helped her slide into the hole, lowering her slowly by her arms until she reached the bottom. Reno frowned and glanced back toward the stairs. Elena was right… the sooner he got Talia moving through the tunnel, the better… but he didn’t want to leave the rookie behind, either.

He sighed. The priority right now was the girl.

“… Just hurry the fuck up, ‘Lena,” he ordered, and followed Talia through the open drain. Reno dropped down into the tunnel, landing with a splash next to the girl. “Come on… ‘Lena can’t take on Corneo’s whole fuckin’ gang herself, so we gotta move while we got time.”

The pair hadn’t gone more than a hundred feet when a scream rang out over Reno’s headset. His eyes went wide as the sound was followed by a series of bumps and thuds, and grunts of pain… and then everything went silent.

“Shit…” he whispered to himself, before trying to raise Elena again, “‘Lena? Can you hear me?” He could hear her breathing… but the only answer he got was the sound of heavy boots on stone stairs. He instinctively spun back to look towards the drain.

“W-what is it?” Talia asked. Reno swore under his breathe.

“Keep goin’,” he urged, pulling her along as fast as he dared. The sooner he handed the girl over to Tseng, the sooner he could go back for Elena. Half of him wanted to point her in the direction of the exit and turn back now. But he knew he couldn’t. The poor kid was terrified, and his first responsibility was the mission.

“Oh, you’re gonna pay for that, you little whore…” a man’s voice – not Kotch this time – ground out, and even over the radio, the anger was unmistakable… as was the sound of chains. Elena groaned. “Wake up, bitch!” He was pretty sure it was the same guy he’d heard before in the hallway. There was a loud crack, followed by another scream.

Reno felt his blood run cold.

The opening was just ahead. He quickened his pace as much as dragging along an eight-month-pregnant teenager would allow, and finally emerged into the dreary light of Wall Market. Tseng and Rude were waiting for him.

“Where’s Elena,” Tseng asked when the rookie didn’t appear behind the two of them.

“No time… take the kid,” Reno replied, all but shoving Talia into Tseng’s arms, and sprinting back into the tunnel. As he ran, he pulled off the headset and shoved it into his pocket, unable to listen to the rookie being tortured… though he found he couldn’t escape it. The sounds echoed just as loudly inside the narrow tunnel as they did over the radio, leaving him feeling sick.

---

“Who’re ya workin’ for, huh?” the man spat at her, “That little upstart Fabian over in Sector 3? Thinks he can horn in on the Don’s business? Better start talkin’, bitch… Kotch is a creampuff compared to me.”

Elena pulled painfully, but futilely, at the chains that held her hands so high above her head she had to stand on her toes just to avoid hanging freely. That was the position she’d woken in… she wasn’t sure how long she’d been out after her freefall down the stairs, but it couldn’t have been any significant amount of time.

Kotch hadn’t been that difficult an opponent, really. He was strong, but slow, and after training with Reno for so long, slow was a substantial disadvantage. It was when the second man had shown up that things had spiraled. She hadn’t seen him in time. Instead of alerting the rest of the mansion, he’d sucker-punched her just as Kotch had gone down. The next thing she knew, she was tumbling head over heels down the steep basement stairs… and that was all she remembered until the first lash of the whip had jarred her back to consciousness minutes ago.

If nothing else, she’d bought Reno and Talia some time… at least she hoped she had. All she really knew was that neither of the were there in the room with her.

The man raised the whip again and brought it down hard on her thigh. She felt tears in her eyes at the searing pain, and let out a sob that mingled with a sharp cry. She already had several deep welts and cuts on her lower back and legs. Elena squeezed her eyes shut as she saw his arm rise again, the leather streaking toward her.

Though she heard it crack against something, the blow never came. Instead, there was a loud grunt and a crash.

“You fuckin’ touch her again, you’re gonna wish you were never born,” a very angry, but very welcome voice growled. Elena’s eyes snapped open. Reno was standing over the man who was lying half top of a toppled rack of still more torture devices. The whip was wrapped around the Turk’s left arm. He shook it loose, catching it by the handle, and stared at it for a moment. “You’re lucky I’m not into this kinda shit myself… or I’d give you as good as ya gave her… and then some.”

“Shinra scum…” the man hissed, “Shoulda known.”

“Now if you were smart, you’d’ve kept your goddamn mouth shut and not let on that ya recognized me,” Reno replied, coldly calm, tossing the whip aside and drawing his sidearm, “Now, though… now I gotta kill ya.”

He took aim at the man’s head, who’s eyes suddenly went wide in terror.

“‘Course, to be fair,” Reno continued, “I was thinkin’ about doin’ that anyway just on principle for fuckin’ with my rookie. Just sayin’… now I don’t have a choice in the matter. Can’t have Corneo findin’ out we’re the ones who took his plaything away…”

“N-no, w-wait, I…”

Whatever plea the man had been planning on making was lost to the sound of the gunshot. Reno didn’t bother sparing him a second glance as he holstered the weapon and lowered Elena to the floor. He made short work of her chains.

“Come on, ‘Lena… someone’s bound to have heard that,” he said. Elena kicked off the one shoe that had somehow remained on her foot following her fall, and Reno helped her up. The rookie staggered as the welts and gashes on her back and thighs screamed in protest, crying out as her badly bloodied right leg gave out beneath her.

“O-ow… Reno, it hurts,” she said, clinging to his arm. They were running out of time. Reno picked her up, carrying her toward the sewer drain.

“Hang on… I gotcha,” he said, as he lowered her down. Heavy bootsteps could be heard on the stairs, as Reno jumped down himself. Once in the tunnel, he pulled the grate closed over the drain. “Let’s go,” he said quietly, pulling Elena’s arm around his shoulders, and rushing her through the tunnel.

When they emerged, Reno set her down against the side of a building, and swung the heavy storm grate closed over the tunnel.

“Is Talia alright?” Elena asked, grimacing as she tried to get a better look at the damage she’d sustained.

“She’s fine… Tseng and Rude are takin’ her up topside as we speak,” Reno said, grinning.

“Just Tseng,” a voice interjected. Rude moved out of the shadows, joining the two Turks. Reno chuckled.

“Shoulda known you wouldn’t leave me behind, partner,” he said. Rude smirked.

“Someone had to make sure you didn’t get penned in down there.” He nodded to a pair of bodies in the alley. More of Corneo’s men.

“Well, fuck… Guess that means I’m buyin’ tonight,” Reno sighed.

“Tomorrow night. You reek,” Rude commented. The redhead gave him a withering look.

“You try crawlin’ around in a fuckin’ sewer for a couple hours and see how wonderful you smell. Now, give me a hand with ‘Lena, will ya? Her leg’s pretty torn up. And so’s her back, so take it easy.”

Rude carefully took charge of the injured Turk, holding her face down over his shoulder to avoid putting pressure on any of the injuries. As much as Reno was loath to admit it, Rude’s more powerful build let him travel faster carrying a burden than the wiry redhead was capable of. Otherwise, Reno would have been only too glad to have taken Elena himself. But none of them wanted to stick around Corneo’s territory any longer than they had to.

“We missed the last train of the night. Got somewhere in mind?” Rude asked.

“How much cash ya got on ya?” Reno asked. Rude raised an eyebrow. “Head for the Honey Bee. Nothin’ like hiding right under someone’s nose.”

---

“Just tell ’em ya want Lira and you’ll even pay for the room ’til she’s available. She’ll be able to get the two of us in through the back,” Reno advised. The three Turks were concealed in the alley behind the Honey Bee Inn. “If we’re lucky, she’s not already with a customer… but don’t count on it. She’s popular.”

Rude nodded his understanding and disappeared around to the front side of the brothel.

“How ya doin’?” Reno asked, turning to Elena. The smaller gashes had stopped bleeding, but some of the larger ones were being stubborn. And then there was their little trip through the sewer, which would almost certainly mean a nasty infection if they didn’t get her cleaned up soon.

“I’m fine, all things considered,” Elena replied, leaning her head back against the wall.

“Ya did good,” he said, “Gettin’ caught was kind of a fuck up, but…”

“Hey!” the rookie said, indignantly. Reno snickered.

“Kidding,” he smirked, “You really did great tonight, ‘Lena.”

The female Turk smiled at the praise, and the pair fell into silence for a short while.

“Reno?” a voice eventually called, concerned, from the Honey Bee’s doorway, “You out there?” Reno helped Elena to her feet, steadying her as they made their way toward Lira. “Oh, sweet Shiva… what did that bastard do to you?” she gasped, catching sight of Elena, “And why do you smell like death?” She looked pointedly at Reno, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

Reno glared at her. “Went for a little swim earlier,” he muttered.

“Where?” Lira asked, motioning them inside, “The sewer?”

“Yeah, actually,” he replied, and Elena had to stifle a laugh. Lira looked utterly repulsed.

“Please tell me there’s running water in the room. Or… maybe just fifty gallons of bleach we can bathe him in?” Elena teased.

“It’s not that bad…” Reno groused, “… is it?” He’d gotten so used to the smell after being down there so long, he really couldn’t tell anymore.

“Oh, believe me… it’s that bad,” Lira affirmed, and led them down a back hallway and into a room, locking the door behind her. Rude was waiting for them.

“You, give her to me so I can clean up those welts,” she said to Reno. She then turned to Rude. “And you… for fuck’s sake do somethin’ with him. I can’t take that stench any longer.”

Rude gave Reno a slightly less than innocent smile, and cracked his knuckles.

“Rude… what are you thinkin’…?” Reno asked, nervously, as Lira took Elena off his hands. The redhead suddenly found himself tossed over the man’s shoulder and hauled across the room. Rude dumped him unceremoniously, clothes and all, into the jacuzzi in the corner.

Reno sputtered as his head popped above the surface of the water. “Was that really necessary?”

“Yes,” Rude stated emphatically in response, and hit the button to turn on the jets for good measure.

---

The trio caught the first train back to the Plate the following morning, dragging themselves aboard with about as much grace as a drunken moogle. They’d accompanied Lira home the night before, and imposed upon her hospitality until dawn, sleeping in shifts just in case they hadn’t covered their tracks as well as they thought and Corneo’s men came sniffing around. Thankfully, it had been a quiet night, though none of them felt particularly well-rested.

Rude chuckled, staring at the other two Turks from across the otherwise empty car.

“What’s so funny?” Reno asked. The bald Turk responded by pulling out his phone and snapping a photo of the pair.

“Think I’m gonna start telling people all about your long lost twin sister,” he smirked, “At least until that dye washes out.”

“Oh, please,” Elena said, rolling her eyes, “I doubt anyone other than Tseng will even notice my hair.”

“Famous last words…” Reno grinned.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Trust me… a redhead doesn’t not get noticed,” he snickered, “I’m used to the attention… you, on the other hand, are gonna be in for a shock.”

“What’s he talking about?” Elena asked, ignoring the double negative and glancing over at Rude. The other man shrugged.

“Oh… you’ll see…” Reno replied, ominously.

---

Tseng settled back into an overstuffed armchair. The girl was safely asleep in the other room. As safehouses went, this was one of the more comfortable ones available to the Turks, and one of the best hidden. Even so, he’d been up and on guard throughout the night.

Rude had contacted him late last night, letting him know that all of his Turks were safe and relatively unharmed. Elena, apparently, had sustained some minor injuries before Reno had reached her, but nothing some disinfectant and bandages wouldn’t take care of. Tseng had been greatly relieved by the news, particularly given the urgency Reno had displayed in going back for the rookie.

He’d brought the girl topside himself. He hadn’t even considered ordering Rude to accompany him back to the Plate. That the man would have obeyed if Tseng had done so was without question… but he would not have been happy about it… and ultimately, Reno and Elena needed him more. Talia had been perfectly cooperative, if slightly terrified at first, and the return trip had gone more smoothly than the Turk leader could have hoped… Now if only his wayward Turks would hurry and return home.

A soft sound from the other side of the room pulled him from his thoughts.

“Good morning, Talia,” he said, glancing up at the figure standing nervously in the doorway.

“G-good morning,” Talia replied, shifting uncertainly. Tseng smiled slightly. He couldn’t blame her for being apprehensive. She really had no idea who he was or why he and the others had gone to the trouble of rescuing her from Corneo’s mansion. He hadn’t been overly concerned about explaining himself on the trip back, being more focused on getting her safely away from the slums.

“As I assured you last night, you’re not in any danger here. You have my word that you will not be harmed… though I certainly won’t hold your obvious skepticism against you, given recent events,” he said, calmly, rising from the chair, “Are you hungry?”

“Kind of…” she said, softly.

“I’m afraid I’m not an especially good cook, but…” Tseng was interrupted, by a knock at the door. The girl jumped, startled, and the Turk motioned for her to stay where she was. Fingers wrapping around his holstered sidearm, he peered through the security peephole in the door… and immediately relaxed. “It’s alright,” he said to the girl, “Just a few friends.”

Tseng unbolted the door, and opened it.

“I was beginning to wonder if you’d all decided to take the day off,” he said as Reno pushed his way into the room first, immediately flopping down on the couch.

“Thought about it, Boss” Reno said with a grin. Rude trailed him through the door.

“… Suggested it, too,” the other Turk added.

“More than once,” a female voice from behind Rude teased. Though the voice was familiar, Tseng was a little shocked when a second redheaded figure peaked out from behind the man. He blinked.

“Elena?”

“Yes, sir?” she asked, slightly confused for a moment, “Oh… right… the hair. It was Reno’s idea.”

“It was Lira’s idea,” Reno corrected, smirking, “Don’t you dare start blamin’ that shit on me… I take no responsibility for your upcoming life as a temporary redhead. Though I will be enjoying it immensely.”

Talia had finally ventured out into the room, and made a beeline for Elena, hugging her tight.

“Thank you so much for getting me out of there,” she said, “I was so worried when you weren’t behind us…”

“Tch… Nothin’ to worry about,” Reno cut in before she could respond, stretching out more fully across the couch, “I wasn’t gonna let anything happen to her. I lose a rookie and Tseng’ll kick my ass into next week And make me find a new one… probably on my day off. Less hassle to just the one we got in one piece.”

“Ignore him. His jokes get progressively less amusing the longer it’s been since he’s eaten… He’s really quite likeable once he’s been fed,” Tseng assured Talia, who was looking at Reno as though he were no better than any other man she’d met lately.

“Ha. Ha.” Reno deadpanned, “Speakin’ of food, though…”

“On it,” Rude called from the kitchen.

“Oh, good… I was afraid we’d have to suffer through one of the boss’ attempts at breakfast,” Reno shouted back, grinning at Tseng, whose only response was a roll of the eyes. Elena guided Talia over to the couch, and shot the redhead a glare.

“Yeah, alright… I’m movin’…” he replied, swinging his legs over the edge and sitting up so the pregnant woman could have a seat.

“W-what are you going to do with me now?” she asked.

“Geez, boss… ya let the poor kid sit around worryin’ all night?” Reno said before Tseng could answer.

“I didn’t have time to explain anything in detail… She was exhausted by the time we arrived, and she only woke up a few minutes before you three returned,” he replied, “But, in answer to your question, we’ve contacted your aunt in Kalm. You’ll be joining her as soon as transportation can be arranged.”

“Aunt Evelyn?” Talia gasped, a smile spreading across her face. Tseng nodded. “But… why?”

“Someone asked us to,” Reno replied with a shrug.

“And unfortunately we’re not at liberty to tell you any more than that. It was part of the arrangement,” Tseng clarified, “Our job is simply to get you out, keep you safe, and see that you make it home to your family.”

“It was Kwedge… wasn’t it?” she said, smiling slightly as she ran a hand gently over her swollen belly.

Reno glanced over at Tseng, uncertain how to answer that. The Turk leader shook his head in amusement. The girl was more perceptive than he would have given her credit for.

“I will neither confirm nor deny,” he replied.

“He’s the only one who would have done something like this,” she said, knowingly, “It’s really his, you know. I was starting at the Honey Bee the day after I found out. We had an awful fight after I told him I was pregnant. I was so stupid… he kept trying to talk to me, but I wouldn’t see him. And then Don Corneo’s men came and took me to his mansion. I tried to tell him them truth, but… he insisted it couldn’t belong to anyone but him. The more I denied it…” She sniffled softly, wiping a hand across her eyes, before looking up at Elena, “… well, that’s why I didn’t want to go down to the basement…”

“Corneo’s a pig,” Reno muttered darkly, “How fucked up do ya have to be to treat a girl like that? ‘Specially one that’s gonna have a kid… like at any fucking second now…”

Talia grimaced slightly and pressed a hand to her abdomen.

“Uh… I was just kidding about that…” Reno said nervously, eyes going wide, “Seriously… don’t have it now.”

Talia giggled softly. “He’s just kicking, that’s all. I think he agrees with you.” She took hold of the redhead’s hand, and pressed it to her stomach. Reno jumped slightly at the sudden movement from within. “See?” she said, smiling.

“Oh, thank Ifrit,” Reno sighed in relief, “That’s somethin’ I really don’t need to see more than once…”

Tseng snorted in laughter, both at Reno’s response, and at Elena’s confused expression. “Reno is the only Turk since the founding of Shinra who holds the honor of having delivered a baby,” he explained.

“Didn’t know traumatic experiences counted as an ‘honor’ now,” came the petulant reply, as he drew his hand back from the girl, “That shit scarred me for life.”

Thankfully, Reno was saved from further reliving said traumatic experience by Rude, who declared that breakfast was ready.

---

Later that afternoon, Elena and Tseng were escorting Talia towards the Shinra company helicopter that would take her to Kalm. Rude had been left in charge of the office in the interim, as Tseng intended to see to her safe arrival himself. Reno had disappeared more than an hour ago… where, Elena had no idea.

“Hey, hold up!” a voice called to them from across the helipad. Elena glanced over to see the aforementioned Turk emerging onto the roof, pulling along someone behind him. Talia looked over at the sudden appearance of two new people and gasped.

“Lira!” she cried happily, as the second figure came into view and rushed over to her.

“Oh, sweetie, I just couldn’t let ya go without sayin’ goodbye,” Lira said, embracing the younger woman.

“I’m so glad you came,” Talia replied, almost in tears.

“Well, you can thank Reno for that. Wouldn’t have known you were gettin’ ready to leave town so soon if he hadn’t come and got me…”

Talia smiled, as Reno finally joined the group, not having been in quite as big a rush as Lira to reach the woman.

“Thank you,” she said simply.

“Nah, don’t mention it,” the redhead shrugged, before adding, “‘Sides… if I hadn’t, Lira woulda been pissed at me. You ever seen her truly pissed off?” Lira swatted Reno on the back of the head. “Ow! What was that for?”

“You always have to end on joke…” Lira said, leaning in and kissing him on the cheek, “Odin forbid someone might start to think you’re actually the decent person you are…” She shook her head and turned back to Talia, hugging her again. “You take care of yourself, okay? And that baby…”

“I will. And you, too,” Talia replied. Tseng offered her his hand to help her into the helicopter. Elena followed, and moments later, they were airborne. Talia continued to wave to Lira back on the helipad until she was out of sight.

---

It was mid-afternoon before Tseng and Elena returned from Kalm. While Elena happily wandered off in search of a late lunch, Tseng joined Rude in one of the sub-basement interrogation rooms. Seated at a small table in the center of the room was a young man, perhaps nineteen or twenty years old with dark brown hair and a slightly rotund build.

“Is she safe?” the man asked.

“Yes. I delivered Talia to her aunt in Kalm personally,” Tseng replied, reaching into his suit jacket and removing his PHS. He pulled up a photo of the girl standing in front of a house in what was very obviously the small village east of Midgar. “I trust that is sufficient?”

The younger man nodded.

“In that case, I believe you owe us some information.”

“My brother… he’s a member of Avalanche,” he replied, “He doesn’t tell me everything, but I hear plenty. They’ve got somethin’ big planned. Wedge said something about makin’ their point with one of the reactors.”

“When?” Tseng asked.

“I don’t know,” the man replied. At Tseng’s annoyed look he quickly added, “They don’t know yet, either. They’re still tryin’ to figure out a way past the new security. And there’s a girl… Jessie… who’s been workin’ on fake IDs for the train that won’t trigger the alarms. Plus… they’re still lookin’ to hire some more muscle before they even think about goin’ for it.”

“And their base of operations?”

“The Seventh Heaven bar. A woman named Tifa runs the place… I don’t know for sure if she does anything more than give ’em a place to meet, though,” he said. Tseng nodded. They’d already assumed as much, but confirmation was always nice.

“And you’re sure they’re the ones who have been trying to break into Shinra’s computer network?” Rude queried.

“Jessie did that. I overheard her say so,” he said, “Only one of ’em that knows a thing about computers, anyway. She wanted plans for something.”

“I see…” Tseng said, considering the possibilities, as he steepled his fingers in front of him, elbows resting on the edge of the table. “I want names… and descriptions. Ever member you’re aware of.”

Rude leaned back in his chair. They were going to be here for awhile.

---

Elena glowered at Reno as he stepped into the elevator alongside her. She’d been tugging at a few stray locks of her temporarily red hair and looking very put-out… almost to the point of pouting… when he’d first stepped aboard. Now, she stood, eyes locked on him in a malevolent glare.

“Keep it up and your face’ll stick that way,” Reno said, grinning. He had a pretty good idea what had his normally chipper rookie in such a less-than-cheery mood.

“It’s all your fault, you know,” she all but growled.

“Told ya already… I take no responsibility for this… but welcome to my world.”

Elena tried to think of suitable a retort for that, but came up short. At last, she sighed in resignation.

“I feel like every last person in the building has been watching me wherever I go. I don’t think most of them have ever even noticed me before! And for crying out loud, why does everyone want to touch it?!” she finally asked, gesturing to her hair. Reno’s grin was growing wider by the minute.

He shrugged. “Red hair’s uncommon. People are attracted to the novelty,” he replied.

“How do you stand it?”

“Oh, that’s easy… I’m an attention whore,” he smirked.

“You like being ogled?” Elena said incredulously, before shaking her head, “Oh… wait… I forgot who I was talking to. Of course you’d like it. You practically live for it.”

Reno took a little bow. The elevator dropped them off at the Turks’ offices, and Elena trailed him to the lounge.

“You used to do it to me, too, ya know,” Reno added, pushing open the door.

“W-what!? I did not!” she denied, sounding slightly scandalized.

“The hell you didn’t,” Reno said, laughing. “The entire first week after your promotion, I think my hair’s probably the only thing ya recognized me by,” Elena scoffed, and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Probably couldn’t’ve even told me what color my eyes were if I’d asked,” he teased, “Matter of fact… What color are my eyes, ‘Lena? And no fair lookin’…”

“Oh, for Shiva’s sake…” Elena groaned, without even bothering to turn around, “They’re blue… with a little bit of green in the center.”

“You sure about that?” Reno asked. The rookie spun around to face him.

“Of course I’m sure,” she replied, but much to her chagrin, she couldn’t stop her gaze from going straight to his eyes to double check. He snickered, obviously having expected her to do exactly that.

“Oh, for… give me a break,” she muttered, looking away and tying to ignore just how obscenely amused the man was over the whole situation.

“You tried to pet it once, too, but ya chickened out. Yeah… I noticed,” he snuck in quickly, watching the woman turn pink, before switching gears, “So… how many times ya heard ‘I’ve never slept with a redhead before’ so far today?”

“Once.. from Creepy Gym Guy,” Elena admitted with a shudder.

“The one from 19 who’s always checkin’ ya out on the treadmill?”

“Yeah, that’s the guy. I told him off.”

“Really?” Reno asked, cocking his head slightly, “My response is usually ‘Do ya want to?’…”

“He’d probably try and take me up on the offer,” said Elena, “I wonder if I can just dye it back?”

“Red to blonde? Good luck,” he commented, chuckling softly, “Now ask me how I know that…”

“O…kay… How do you know that?” she asked, one eyebrow rising.

“‘Cause Tseng once tried to turn me into a double for Rufus,” said Reno. He headed for the couch and made himself comfortable, stretching out across its entire length. “Ya think I look weird with blue hair, ya shoulda seen that dye job… Basically turned it orange. And not a subtle orange, either. Think reflective traffic cone orange. I made Tseng swear he’d never do that to me again…”

“… Do what to you again?” Rude asked, catching the tail end of the conversation as he walked through the door.

“Dye my hair,” Reno responded.

Rude began to chuckle. “That was not a good look for you…” he commented.

“Yeah, no shit…”

“… You wouldn’t even let me take a picture…” Rude continued.

“Damn straight.”

“Good thing I took it before you told me not to,” he finished. Reno sat up, staring at Rude as if trying to gauge whether or not the man was joking.

“I’m gonna have to kill you now, aren’t I?” Reno said when it became apparent that he was not.

~fin~