My Road

Disclaimer:

I do not own Final Fantasy 7, It’s original characters, places, etc. Nor do I make any money from this fanfiction. The only things that are mine are my own original added characters. And the situations or new places added to flesh out my own story.

Warnings: none really! Slight sadness, and lots of thinking. And a growing young man’s dreams!


My Road

~Chapter 12~


Sector 7 wasn’t a place that Reno and Talc had come to In their jobs, more than once or twice. He wasn’t as familiar with this place as he had become of the other sectors down here. But using his keen mind he felt his way around carefully. He wanted to blend in as best as he could.


Reno wore some long cargo-style pants with lots of pockets… yet another of the things Talc had come back with as a gift for the young man. It was handy now… He had a lot of his supplies sorted amongst his pockets and the pockets of the large over coat that Talc had given him a long time ago. The pack on his back certainly wasn’t overfilled this way, so he looked more natural walking around. And it hit his underweight frame better… making him look more like a filled out 16 year old, rather than a ‘barely turned tall 12 year old.’


It was as if Gaia herself has shocked Reno into remembering something that had been said to be SO important. His mother had instructed him to find his aunt. Obviously, Re’nocia had a sister living somewhere.


Reno’s heart swelled with sadness again. His mothers eyes… He imagined looking into their depths again. But he couldn’t remember the color of them. He could only picture the sadness and love in them. He wondered if his mother’s sister would have her eyes, or their beauty and warmth. And then he recalled the fear that filled them that last time he’d spoken to his mother.


Reno grit his teeth. If he hadn’t come to this sector, he might have remembered to keep looking for someone who was his family. He didn’t have anyone left in this life now. But wait, Reno shook his head. He surely wouldn’t have been able to come here. He let his eyes dart around again to ensure no one was watching him. No, it took him meeting Talc to be able to come here. He subconsciously rubbed the fake ID badge for riding the train that Talc had gotten for him. He’d been taught skills, self defense, even how to interact, Talk had even taught Reno how to talk more like the upper plate crowd… and less with the slum drawl. Yes, maybe this was what Gaia had fated for him.


Grinning, Reno thought back to the other day after he’d returned for his things. He’d gone to sleep back at their shelter to allow himself to rest, and had woken up with a very large and very warm blanket wrapped around him. He’d not really enjoyed the idea of sleeping on the cold floor with all his things in a backpack under his head. But yes, when he’d awakened to find Kit… He was beyond relieved. He knew the cat could take care of himself, but with the battles, he was afraid someone might have gone after his feline companion. Kit would have avoided it as much as possible. But either way, Kit was here, now!


And Reno had to figure a way to get the cat on the train. But somehow Kit had understood. And as Reno ran his badge the sneaky feline somehow stalked inside and hid. The car had been empty as it would be normally. But Reno’s grin widened as he thought to that moment. Heh, Talc had told him that Cuahl’s knew magic… that it was natural for their kind. In fact they were one of the best to observe and learn from if you didn’t have a trainer. Well, magic wasn’t for Reno but, with a shrug, he’d resigned himself happily to the knowledge that his companion and friend would be very beneficial for getting around down here.


Once they’d made it successfully off the train in sector 7, which had been a very stressful moment indeed. This sector was much busier; there had been a few people in the train station this time. But it was as if they were immune to Kit. No one even glanced at him as he skulked his way through sleekly beside his boy.


They had walked until they found a more abandoned area in the sector, again near the section of main piping near the center structure. That was where Reno had left his companion and some of the belongings. They’d most likely camp out there this night. But Reno had to push on, and try to find out some information.


“Faremis” He whispered out loud to himself. And the Cuahl perked his ears and lifted his sleepy face to look up at Reno. “That’s who I have to find.” He said sadly, then sat down beside Kit and began rubbing his head. “I can’t believe I forgot all ‘bout what Mam’ said Kit!” He said to the calming soul. As if the feline could make him understand everything, and himself all the better. “Well.. I’m off, you stay here Kit.” He made the motion with his hands that the Cuahl had learned, meant stay, and took off in the direction of the train station.


If there was anything he could learn, it would probably be near that station. It was busier than any other area they’d passed through today. It was still early in the evening, so people should still be up and about. This sector didn’t seem to be all as bad as other sectors, for the heavier style jobs, and people barely living to work, eat rations and sleep. No, this was closer to what Reno imagined it must be like up on the upper plate even. It was nice.


Yes, there were many things to look at, lots of signs and businesses. Reno had spotted numerous areas with Shinra logo’s neatly placed in a window, or on a sign post, or hung from a ledge. Shinra was highly loved in this sector. There appeared to be more rations, or just more food in general. Everyone he passed looked healthier and had more meat to them.


This would certainly be a nicer place to have grown in than where Reno had originally come from. But with a half lifted smirk he thought. ‘I’d have never learned, or loved… if I had been.’


He slowed his pace up as he neared the station. He didn’t want to raise suspicions, though he’d noticed lots of people around that appeared to not live here, or were just working, or visiting. He let his arms swing at a natural slow pace, and opened his jacket so he didn’t look dangerous. Reno tucked a stray hair that had come loose from the wrap around his severe ponytail. His hair had gotten quite long now, and was so thick. But still, despite his efforts to contain it, it would fall loose. He shrugged no matter. He looked around and saw people of all sorts here, different hair, and different clothes.


Hmm… Reno narrowed his eyes slightly, there appeared to be people that he recognized as well. But he wouldn’t let that interfere. He simply turned his head and acted as if he was looking at the boarding options on the station’s billboard. The two dark and sleazy men that he’d spotted would certainly be troublesome. But easy enough to avoid.


He waited a few minutes and then moved back in the original direction he’d been going. He saw a man who must be here for a guard type of duty. That person might be helpful. He watched as the slightly portly man roved his eyes back and forth in a very bored manner. Plastering his most charming grin on his face, Reno approached the man directly.


“Hey, sir...” Reno would be careful to talk as smoothly as possible. “I was hoping you could help me?” Reno stopped about 4 feet in front of the man. Who was happening to look Reno over from head to toe, obvious about reading and judging the boy.


“Yeah, wha wiff?” The man talked with a very strong almost burr-like accent. Funny, wonder where he’s from, Reno thought.


“Oh, you see, I was told to come here to find a family member. Her last name was Faremis… does that sound familiar to you sir?” Reno clasped his hands like a child would, to seem as harmless as possible. He certainly didn’t need to deal with any authorities right now.


“Yeah, dat’ woul be somfin familiar ta me laddie” The man had Rolled the word ‘familiar’. “D’ya wanna find da missus dat can elp’ya?”


Reno had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. To think he was worried about sounding too slummy. Heh, this man was like the epitome of slum slur’s. “Yes sir, I’d like that very much. If you could just point me in the right direction… Thank you.” Reno nodded with a slight smile.


The man gave Reno some decent directions, and then with a sad look on his face he told the boy not to get his hopes up, and left to switch guards obviously, as a darker nastier looking man look his place. Reno sauntered off as slowly and as mingling looking as possible. Never hurt to be paranoid in this dank world.


Reno decided that today wouldn’t be the best day to go, it was already late. As he quietly made his way through some of the dirty streets he observed many people heading inside, and some shops closing up. He passed a couple of tavern-like places. He’d been inside a few with Talc. They certainly weren’t closing up. Maybe he could head inside one, just for a warm and lit place to stay for a little bit before he would head back to Kit. It might be nice to observe some other people for a time, it always ended up being interesting watching other people get drunk or in fights.


The atmosphere inside the tavern he’d chosen was busy and kind of loud also. But it was warm, and there were quite a few people here too. He sat down in a corner at the end of the bar. No one knew any better, they assumed he was 16, the legal age to be here. He leaned forward and motioned to the bar master. He was slung a cheap, short, beer mug, and began drinking it slowly. He’d acquired a taste for alcohol when his warm and dark Hero had shown him the ways of life. He could hold his own with it as well, more than once Talc had challenged him. He could hold up almost as well as the older man could.


But tonight, he only wanted to relax and feel like he belonged for a few minutes. The smell in the air in this tavern was a washed up mix of ale, spirits, and sweat. This was not a frilly place, there was some quiet music playing behind the din of the mainly male, crowd. There were a few women, but they were scantily clad, and not very warm looking. Very different than the motherly type Reno was accustomed to where he’d grown up. They were quite appalling actually.


Reno could hear some men fighting about job status somewhere behind him. And to the left a few seats down he could see and hear some man mourning the loss of a son in the army. The man looked so sad, Reno wished his father had been that regretful and loving about his existence. Further to the left there were a couple of men that looked to be reactor workers, with Shinra logo’s on some dirty clothes. And one of them was reaching out to a scantily clad woman as she walked by. He stopped her and pulled her by the elbow to straddle his legs. The woman made some moaning noises and leaned down to whisper into the man’s ear. Reno watched as her mouth said things that were intimate, but her face was like an impassive stone. If they were unhappy about it all, why did they do this kind of work?


Reno brought his gaze back to the beer that was in front of him and took another gulp of the almost warm liquid. It certainly wasn’t refreshing, but the taste and feeling of the drink going down his throat, he welcomed.


Reno didn’t know how long he sat there but slowly the noise level had risen and it seemed to be even busier now than when he’d first arrived. Must be the night crowd, he thought. But he didn’t react when a young man sat down beside him. He nonchalantly assessed the man without showing it. He took another drink of his beer and read the person that was beside him now.


It was a young man, quite nicely dressed, sleek pin striped slightly shiny fabric for a long sleeve dress shirt. But the top few buttons on the shirt were left open his pointed collars out near his shoulders. His sleeves were unbuttoned and rolled up to be about only three quarter length sleeves. He wore more than one chain around his neck. Dark dress style pants and sunglasses up on his head rather than on his face. His hard was dark brown and short, slightly gelled back but feathered looking still. He had a dangerous feel about him, but dark, and exciting.


Reno felt his eyes wander over the young man more appraisingly now, less hidden. He was letting his guard down a bit, the young man’s vibes rolled off of Reno in a calling manner.


“So… you like what you see?” The question was practically whispered. The man hadn’t taken his eyes off of the newly handed drink that he had. It was a shot of something strong most likely. He lifted it and swallowed it gracefully. Reno watched his throat work. Before realizing the question so quietly said, had been pointed towards him.


Boy, he was getting tired, he needed to keep his assessing air about him. Reno straightened his back. “You don’t look like you belong here, is all.” Reno said then went back to drinking, motioning for the bar master to get him another one, as he finished it.


“Funny, neither do you.” Was the curt reply, the man still hadn’t looked up at Reno.


“I don’t… just here visiting, looking for someone.” Reno felt safe in saying this after being in the sector for most of the day.


“Well…” The young man turned and looked Reno up and down. Not in an admiring, or lustful manner, just assessing, as Reno had done to him. “If you don’t find your friend… look me up. I always have job opportunities for someone with your potential.” Just like that the man threw some Gil onto the counter, and a card slid next to Reno’s second beer, and left.


Reno was quite surprised at the outcome. Had the man really read him that quickly? Reno had a lot of learning still to go if his advanced mind couldn’t keep up. He needed to be better than others. He needed to make it… He would be someone that people either respected or feared one day.


‘Well… who was he?’ Reno thought and fingered the card that was on the counter in front of him. He picked it up and read the two lines that were on it. ‘Protégé Host Investor, Communications; Eyes Shut’. Then the second line read, ‘Nightly Manor, sector 2.’ Reno had a chill race up his spine. The man had a dangerous aloof feel about him. He himself didn’t appeal to Reno, but the dangerous and lively air about his business was extremely appealing to the Fiery boy.


No matter, Reno mentally brushed it off, yet pocketed the card. He had a mission. He began to slowly drink down the second beer. He wanted to head out soon. It was getting late and didn’t want trouble on his way back to Kit.


Again the noise rose in the Tavern, but just as quickly it went eerily quiet for the lively place. Reno’s skin and mind prickled at something else in the air that didn’t belong here. Not the same as the young man that had sat beside him. It was a powerful nature that rolled out of his mind, like he could conjure up what it was meant to be before he could see who, or what had entered.


Two men walked into the tavern and made their way to a booth silently and without words they seemed to communicate. They wore dark blue suits and were very neat in appearance. But the look on their faces as they read, yet didn’t read each person, was deadly. Not just dangerous, or cold, but simply deadly. Reno couldn’t read any cruelty on them, but a VERY alert mind, and skills to match. Who were these strangers?


Reno turned back to his drink and in that split second there was a ruckus, and a quickly silenced cry. He turned back to where they had been and there was two shady looking men in the booth in their stead, their eyes fixed on the ceiling and blood trickling out of the corners of their mouth. Reno saw the two men with suits slowly walking towards the door as if they owned the place. Maybe they did? But just then the darker skinned one tossed a wad of Gil on to the empty table near the door, and just as silently as they had arrived, they left.


Reno hadn’t known it at the time, but he’d been holding his breath. And his heart was racing. Slowly the noise picked up again and the din around him washed out the prickling feeling as it had slowly faded. He heard some whispered and venomous statements about Shinra and Turks, then focused his mind to zero in on the respondent. He heard faintly ‘Those damn slinky Turks… They know they own this place, having Shinra under their boot tip… and everyone’s damned afraid of them. They are bloodthirsty…..’ Reno stopped listening. His whole world zeroed out for a minute when he focused on those statements.


‘My God… those were Turks!’ Reno jumped up from the quiet space he’d been sitting in. Threw some Gil on the counter and dashed out the door. ‘They!? Were Turks!?’ Reno’s eyes lit up like the giant Shinra Power Sign he’d seen when he first got off the train in this sector. ‘They are even cooler, than I could have ever imagined…’ He ran out onto the quiet and damp street.


Reno closed his for a second and zeroed in on that ‘deadly, alert, awareness’ that he had senses in the Tavern. ‘Where…’ He spied movement down one of the alleys behind another business. Dashing after the shadowed movement he reached out further with his senses… he needed to put out a non attacking aura. His feet carried him swiftly to where he thought he’d seen the men go. But when he reached where the ally met at a tee with roads both ways he didn’t see anyone.


Very quickly disappointed Reno turned on his heels, allowing his mind to go slack for the moment; he just needed to get back to Kit. Reno tried not to think about this as a missed opportunity, but as a major eye opener. For a few minutes he’d completely forgotten about family, life, the lower plate, and even Talc. And he’d had a chance to see the famous Turks, for one second he’d seen them, and saw their cool facades, and their work, left with no one bothering them, and everyone filled with fearful respect… no one bothered them, and everyone was awed in one way or another by them… How could he have thought he wanted to be anything but, that!


Reno was lost in his own dream world for a split second so when a set of hands grabbed him very quickly and silently from behind, he didn’t know what to do. His immediate reaction was to go limp, with fear and also in hopes of false weakness. If the person who held him thought he couldn’t fight… maybe he could get away.


He felt the persons strong arms tighten even greater and more in control than anything. Obviously his ruse wasn’t going to work on whoever had a hold of him. Reno closed his eyes and reached out with all of his senses. He could smell this very earthy smell, not the slums, and mud, but rich… like Gaia’s lands outside of the city. It enveloped him, his senses touched something cold and something untouchable… but when he delved around that he felt a deep and keen awareness, maybe even a touch of warmth?


Reno was startled out of his sensing trance-like state. When he heard a low voice “What are you doing here, and at this hour?” The voice was cool, and strong, almost arrogant but not at the same time. And most importantly, the voice was coming from somewhere other than from his captor’s mouth. He again reached out with his senses… farther past the person behind him, but more to the side, where he’d heard that voice. This was where he felt only cold, cunning, deadly, and alertness even greater than the warmer earthier alert body that was behind him holding him in a barring yet not painful embrace.


Reno realized that he could turn his head if he wanted to, that it was not being held, but only by his fear. When he turned and faced towards where the sound had come from, he saw a dark looking man, go figure Reno… pay closer attention, he chastised himself. The man was wearing a “Suit!?”


“You like it?... answer my question…” The man replied with a slight quirk of his lips. The words had been spoken clearly around the end of a cigar. The man had dark blond hair, with sideburns that went low and wide on either of his cheeks. But Reno couldn’t see where his eyes were looking, smartly he wore sunglasses. Though Reno hadn’t noticed that detail in the tavern… he didn’t notice many details, he realized grimly.


It’s the Turks, It’s the Turks, he chanted over and over again in his head. He was really meeting them. His excitement must have been an easy read on his face. Because between some silent body language or something, both the body that held him, and the wiry and mature blond chuckled at the same time. “I… er… sir’s… I just really want to. That is, I don know yo!?” He finished venomously with frustration. Two of the idealized Turks… the mysterious and infamous, eternal and stealthy ‘TURKS’ were there, and he was being held by one.


With the slightest of a nod the blond man gave, the person holding Reno ever so gently released the boy. “You best be careful young man… usually in these sorts of instances, we don’t have the ‘time’ to find out if it is friend or foe… ‘Before’ we take action. Now, you hurry home, it’s late for someone your age to be out, especially around here” He motioned to the alleyway that they were at the end of. Then with a chuckle the man lifted his sunglasses, though it was so brief Reno couldn’t make out his eye color, the older man Winked at him.


Never had he felt so young and stupid as he did then. What had he been thinking? Run after them, throw yourself at them? Beg them to kill you, teach you, and take you in? That’s a joke. Did you just want to see them in action, think they wouldn’t see, or hear you, and escape without incident? No… Reno you are so stupid. Reno’s thoughts were startled as he watched the man walk away, but the forgotten body behind him clamped a hand on his shoulder. Not in a forceful manner, not in a threatening manner. The action was almost in a show of respect to the boy. Maybe the person knew his ego and dreams had been blown up and burst in that rare experience. Who knew, but the person who passed by Reno was tall and lean, yet more filled out than the blond had been. He wore a hat, so Reno couldn’t make out his head, or hair. And he also wore sunglasses. But he didn’t have as pale of skin as the blond had. But Reno couldn’t make out the hue in this alley, all he did see undisputedly, was a slight smile. Not a mocking smile. A smile of approval…


‘Heh’, someone liked, that he was a fan … ‘Small miracles do happen’. “Sweet Shiva and Gaia…” Reno grinned back at the man, though he wasn’t sure if he’d even been looking his way. In fact Reno’s Real smile broke out then. He felt so overjoyed, where one second ago, shame had been there.


The men virtually disappeared. No footsteps. Reno couldn’t sense anything. And just as quickly as they had disappeared, Reno felt his cold state of loneness again. He needed to hurry back to Kit. He WAS alone, and this WAS not a good place for him to be. He’d always had Talc there by his side when he’d come to places like this before. Bahamut! He’d be strong enough one day… he’d fend for himself, AND help others. He glanced back over his shoulder in the direction the Turks had disappeared towards. One day, he’d be like them… them, AND Talc. He’d be like both… and be strong, and talented, and stealthy… and…


Reno hurried back towards where he’d left Kit. Then wrapping his blanket around him, he snuggled up to the feline, knowing that Kit would wake up with anyone being near or any possible threat. As he drifted off, he dreamed of Talc, fighting and teaching, and Turks in suits, with cigars, and sunglasses, and a dark and warming smile. He’d find his family tomorrow… but tonight… he’d hold onto his Hero’s.

~~~End Chapter~~~

A/N: Ugh. I finished this earlier today, then got so distracted by looking up more and more mindless ff7 facts. I do that ALL the time. Study the Timeline’s, the characters… so much. And NEVER get tired of it. But I drove myself MAD trying to find more of a certain Turk… I wanted to know the color of his eyes. But there is NOTHING out there. Thankfully he usually wears sunglasses. So… for now in my story anything revolving Turks… will include sunglasses LOL…. Not that there WILL be any other Turks in this story *rolls eyes* well… at least not for now anyway *sticks tongue out* LOL….


Well Hope ya’ll like this update. I really want to keep writing and do chapter 13 already. But I also want to finish a story I’m reading… AND I want to start another story! GRrrr so many choices. Ugh. *palf/face* AND I have a partial chapter 4 of coffee kills still waiting to be finished *slaps self* I gotta get my rear in gear and finish what I start :P


Well thanks to any readers... And reviewers! And reviews make me so glad. I always love to try to learn more about writing and will take any advice that’s offered! So feel free. Constructive criticism is good!