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: nothing major except maybe some memories... A new friend. Learning to live, and learning the way of life in the slums... to survive.


My Road

~Chapter 8~

The man’s strong forefinger under Reno’s chin should have made the boy shiver in fear, but instead it gave him some comfort. Maybe the presence that stood there wasn’t as bad as Reno feared. But he mentally kicked himself, he needed to be more careful. He felt a sudden wave of security through his head and he opened his mouth.


“Why should I tell you, Yo?” The boy said with as much surety as he could muster. He’d already eaten his pride and sounded like a stuttering fool in front of him. “Talc?...” He said the young man’s name.


“Well Reno…” He said using the boys name as well, with his smooth voice. “You see, I heard you talking to the gentleman in the shop. And you also see, I’m someone that you want VERY much, to be your friend, and you just don’t know it yet.” He stopped and looked like he was thinking for a second. “You don’t have an ID do you?”


Reno was very surprised at what Talc had said, how could he want him for a friend if the man didn’t know him, nor he the man!? What should he do, ID? Of course not, but that was really taking a risk if he answered the man so easily. He needed to think this through and allow his instincts that he’d worked on growing over the last two years. He needed to read the truth in this man’s statements and ask some of his own questions.


“Why do you want to know, what could you know or have that would make you so sure that I would benefit from being your peer?” Reno asked in a much older voice. Maybe the young man wouldn’t know how young Reno was, and he’d earn some more respect from him.


Instead of sounding more sure, Reno didn’t know that Talc had heard the insecurity in the boys’ voice. He was talented… He’d grown up and been around far worse people and places than he hoped the boy would ever see. But he saw potential… a fire. Talc wanted to settle down and lay low for a while anyway. He could help this timid little fire ant, learn how to make a sting.


“Well little Reno… You have a lot to learn if you can’t tell by my attitude just how much knowledge I can hand to you. Although you really can’t know, can you. Little firey thing like you, you are scared of who I am, I assure you, there are worse monsters out there. And I can help to teach you who they are and how to make it in this underground world.” Talc stood up his full height and loomed over Reno. “I asked about ID, because I never had one either… yet here I am, and I came by way of train… s’pose that’s something you can’t do, huh?” His accent slipped slightly.


Reno’s eyes widened at this sudden onslaught of information. He looked around them calculating, and taking in the scenery, and all of the drab people of this sector. The lack of light in their eyes, the lack of food, shelter, happiness all equated to the slums. Everything that Reno had in his heart still, from his mother planting it there. All he needed. Would he lose that light, that nourishment, despite his hunger, would he lose the love that was planted? It could die.


“Are you real, sir?” Reno’s timidness came to the fore in this one innocent statement. He gripped the piece of burlap that the shop keeper had put his purchases in.


Talc hadn’t expected the sincerity in the boys voice, or the lack of fear… in this simple statement he sense an open raw wound. This boy needed direction… and Talc needed a place to be.


“I’m as real as you need me to be.” Talc said, then pulled out a white card with a strip on it. It was an ID badge with a much skewed picture. You couldn’t tell if it was Talc or someone with a likeness to him. He held it out to Reno. “this … I can get you one too.”


Reno thought for a second. “If it’s not a real badge, then what about your fingerprints?” Reno had a scowl on his little face. He felt smug inside for thinking of that.


“Boy, you are dense, huh?” He held his hands up then pulled something out of his pocket, t looked like soft black leather.


Reno’s eyes went wide. He’d seen pictures of SOLDIER before who wore black gloved for sword fighting, he couldn’t have missed what these black things were. “SOLDIER GLOVES!!!” he shouted excitedly.


Talc’s eyes widened in shock and his eyebrows went high. “’hamut kid!?... there’s all kinds of gloves.” But when he saw Reno’s eyes deflate sadly, he handed them out to him. “But they are similar. Here try em on, huh?”


Reno reached reverently out for the gloves and felt the soft supple leather. They were well worn from use. He held them up to his nose. They smelled nice. He slip one small hand into one of the gloves, struggling with each digit on the appendage. He giggled lightly and held his hand up. “Guess I am little, Yo.”


Talc smiled. This kid could definitely grow on him. It would provide for a nice change. He didn’t intend on staying long enough for the kid to be old enough for his own ID, but having the gloves become a surprising distraction was good.


Talc reached out for the gloves. “So, kid, are you going to show me the way to your home. I just got in and I’m tired. I’ll help you out, you help me. Deal?” He held out his bare right hand in an offer to shake Reno’s.


Reno scowled again. Maybe this would be ok. And if not, at least this guy wasn’t a trafficker. Or at least he didn’t seem to be part of that. Reno would be screwed anyway if he was.


“Deal, sir.” Reno nodded and held out his hand. “Do you have Gil?” He asked looking up into the warm dark eyes.


“Yeah Firey… I got Gil… We’ll do fine the two of us will, huh?”The kid’s guard was down. He’d charm his way into the boys trust in no time. He was raw from something. Maybe they’d make a good pair in the end. If he could train the boy, he’d be a real help to him. “Now, you gonna show me the way, I’m starved, huh.” He gently cupped Reno’s chin, then took the burlap bag from the boy, tossing it over his shoulder.


“We can go there soon, but there’s something I want to check first. We’ll be needing water, and I’m not a resident, so I can’t get on a ration, or water list, Yo.” Come with me, you can help.


Talc shrugged his shoulder. He could wander with the boy. There was no one in this sector at the moment that knew his face… they’d be safe for a time at least.


They started in the direction of the inner wall that was near all of the reactor tubing and inner workings of the city. Near the center that belonged to Shinra themselves. Just what did this boy have in mind he wondered?

~~~Later that day~~~

Talc was wary, but they really didn’t need to worry, this sector was so packed with buildings that it wasn’t that, out of the ordinary for the two to be around it all. In some sectors you couldn’t get this close without having the army down your throat. They were near the Reactor chutes that enter the center Shinra Tower. There was steam and pipes everywhere. Some contained the mako that fueled the city, some contained water, others still contained waste. And also one even carried air, probably one of the few connected to vents to keep the slums barely alive.


Reno had an idea, it had been formed in his mind without him really knowing why. It stemmed from the times he’d played with the Kit’s by himself. In his home sector he could play all over the pipes and vents. If adults knew they’d have forbid it. But he’d kept to himself a lot.


He knew more about the pipes and water flow and airflow than many his age, and older yet. Not because he’d been taught, but again from observation. He didn’t know how the water delivery carts got they’re water but he knew the army oversaw it. He also knew the pipes and fittings that somehow interconnected the whole system were around here somewhere. And hopefully if he was right in his calculations and if he was careful he’d have enough water in constant supply.


Now, though he would need to think of more than one person. He didn’t realize how much more responsibility that would put on him again. Yet… He glanced over at the warm man. It was kind of comforting to think of not being alone in this new place now.


They reached a more steam dense area finally and Reno was very concentrated in thought at his surroundings. Talc was monitoring him and observing him intently the whole way. He wanted to see how this boy thought and what exactly he had in mind, though he thought he might know.


Reno slowed up as he approached a specific pipe. He tasted of the condensation on the outside by wiping it carefully with his finger. He moved further down, looking for a specific sign. He found more steam coming from an area on the ground. And saw that the ground was very wet in that particular spot. He searched above using his nimble fingers to feel along the pipes till his face showed some relief.


He turned to Talc. “I believe, I’ve found us an answer ta our problem of water.” He pulled his hand off of an area on the pipe and showed Talc. Water dripped off of his fingers. And a grin spread across his face.


Talc smiled to the boy. “That you did boy, how smart is that? If only people thought once and a while, they wouldn’t be so dependent on the dominion of Shinra. Good job, huh. Now you can rig something up and come to collect water whenever you need it.”


Reno’s grin faded. “You mean, when ‘we’ need it?” He looked up with innocence in his eyes. “If I can really trust you.”


Talc cupped the boys chin and ran a finger on his cheek. “We’ll do good Firey boy. You’ll see, you’ll thank me when you realize just how much I can teach you, huh?” He grabbed the boy and hoisted him up on his other shoulder. “This is the start of a fine friendship, huh? Now how bout you show me the way to our home.”


This shouldn’t be like this. Reno shook his head as they began walking. He’d remember the place where the leak was, easy enough. Why was he taking, basically a complete stranger to a home, he barely knew himself. In a sector, he’d just come to. In a new life he’d only just begun. Talk about taking chances.


Reno looked over his shoulder at the man tailing him. He was so much taller than Reno, He gave off the air of being much older, but Reno had a feeling he wasn’t much past being a teenager. And when Reno thought about it, there had been secrets in the man’s eyes when he spoke. But he held no sense of secrecy about telling Reno he’d be safe… and teach him things. Though, Reno felt he was withholding something vital… He’d know soon enough.


“We have quite a walk ta get there, hope you don’t mind, Yo.” Reno called softly to the man. “But it’s in a nicely secluded place so that no one would be so likely ta question us at least.” Reno wanted to try to draw out some conversation with the man.


“The walk isn’t going to be a bother. And you were smart in picking your location. I don’t come to this sector that often, but really it’s one of the best to keep a more quiet life in. You know, you are spooked about the traffickers aren’t you?” Talc leveled a serious look at Reno at the question.


“Um, yeah… but only ‘cause I’ve heard rumors of what they do. They steal people, Yo, that are alone… like widows, or young ones without parents or guardians. I don’t know what they do with them, but it can’t be good. Everyone in my old sector was scared. It was like a boogeyman story to all the kids, only real.” Reno shrugged but kept walking.


“Well Reno, I can tell you this much. I know a bit about the trafficking. There’s more than one kind going on. I’ve had… experience in learning about some of these people. So I can tell you this much, I’ll help you learn how to avoid them… or if you need it, how to protect yourself a bit. Maybe I can even teach you a little about how to earn yourself some Gil along the way. That sound good, huh?” Talc rested his hand on Reno’s shoulder


“That sounds real good, Yo… Real good. Reno sighed. They still had a long walk ahead of them. “So, Talc, tell me some of your adventures.”

~~~Couple Hours later~~~


Reno had gotten to know a bit about Talc, how he’d managed to get away from Midgar for a year and work with some group, which protected travelling politicians from the different towns. Also Talc told about his adventures with the trains system, after he’d learned to cheat it. He spoke of earning money… and business with connecting people. He spoke of the different districts and sectors of Midgar... and how, not ALL the slums were this bad, and the food, and entertainment. It was all magical to Reno.


He’d asked Talc what brought him here, and he said he needed a slower pace of life for a bit. But Reno knew there was more to it. The man laughed easily, but touched Reno’s shoulder in a respectful manner whenever he’d talk about his way of life, and then remind Reno that he had so much he could teach him. And more than once along the way he’d mentioned how thankful he was that he’d met Reno. He wanted a friend and that Reno could be like a little brother to him.


All of the stories and the growing feeling of connection helped to ease some of the ache on Reno’s chest. But he knew it would never ALL go away. He needed to learn to cope.


They’d made it back in no time really. Reno had showed Talc the place and they’d both begun cleaning it out and seeing what things were usable in the place. They’d talked more. Talc had asked more about Reno this time. And Reno spoke of his jobs and growing up… his mother singing and them mending clothes… her stews. All the simple things. Talc had asked about his parents… Reno said they’d passed away.


They’d done a lot, by the time evening come. They were sipping coffee after Talc had started a fire for them with some scrap wood outside. And Reno was warming them up some simple canned food over the fire, right in the can, stirring occasionally.


It had been extremely tough for Reno to get into the can with the knife he wasn’t used to. But he figured it out and managed. He didn’t want to start having to ask for help from Talc immediately. Talc had watched him, and Reno figured at least these responsibilities he was good at. Reno had been his mother’s helper early on… then became his mother’s replacement after that. So making dinner for the two of them wouldn’t be hard. Neither would, caring for those same basic duties that Reno was used to…for the two of them… either. Actually Reno felt a sense of security in finding his niche like that.


Reno served the can of food by splitting some of it into one of the tins that he’d brought from home, Talc and he respectfully used their own knives to eat the food with. The food went so well to the starving guys. They both inhaled it practically.


Talc was cleaning the last bits out of his tin when he lunched to his feet, knife ready. “Reno, get behind me.” He snarled at the boy from a defensive position in front of the door.


Reno jumped to his feet. What was going on?


“Who’s there!?” Demanded Talc. His voice sounding far harsher than Reno had heard yet.


Sweet goddess. Reno thought. We must have been followed…


~~~End Chapter 8~~~

A/N:


Ok… sorry its short. I’m having a difficult time building up Talc’s character in the way I want him to be… I have a VERY LONG extensive outline to follow… but for Reno and Talc to get to know one another… it’s feeling like FOREVER!

I hope to get the story to pick back up some… soon. I’ll work on chapter 9 tomorrow guys! Thanks so much. Ohh and hopefully we’l have some fanart soon for it also!!!