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...And boyhood feelings. Training and growing begins. Slight scene with yaoi hints… but nothing steamy.


My Road

~Chapter 9~


“Reno, get behind me.” Talc 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…


A dark blur swept through a suddenly pushed open doorway. Charging at Talc, the shadow leapt into the air.


“NOO!!! Stop!“ Reno shouted at Talc as he pulled a knife from his boot. “Kit!!.. Down!” Reno threw his hands in front of the taller man.


A still growing, yet quite large feline creature slid to a stop and leapt gracefully over the boy to the side near the wall. Kit stalked back and forth a couple of paces, eyeing this new man. He was bigger than Reno and had a different smell, and feel. Kit sniffed the air and reached out with his senses trying to distinguish if the man was a threat or if his boy was safe.


“It’s ok Kit… see, he’s fine, Yo.” Reno walked back next to the man and put his hand on his shoulder. God’s the man has some lean muscle… though he didn’t look it. “He’s our new friend.” Then Reno looked up at the man.


Talc had a look of awe in his face. His hand still hadn’t let the knife go down, even with the boy’s obvious control over the monster. He’d heard of it, rarely, a man’s control over monsters, for show and for entertainment. But here, a boy, and in the city? Hmm… this is interesting. Reno keeps surprising.


“Talc, sir… this is Kit, yo. He’s been my friend since he was little. And ‘is family all grew up and left ‘im, so I didn’t dare leave ‘im.” Reno shrugged. Maybe if he got the introduction over quicker and the guys went back to eating, Talc would feel more comfortable. Reno didn’t even think about this situation, Kit was just always there now.


“Hmm, Reno you will not cease in surprising me from this day on will you, huh? I am honored to have come upon you, boy. From this day forward, I will teach you as much as you can learn, and you can let me in, on your life as well.” Talc reached forward with his left hand to set it on Reno’s. The boy still had his arm resting on Talc’s right shoulder.


In that moment, Reno felt the world suddenly expand. Here, was the goddess’s answer to his secret pleadings. He could learn to live, and survive through this Slum, hell. He could grow up more, and become a real man. Maybe Talc was his ticket to the surface plate as well.


The evening swept by, they ate the last bit of their food in silence and made some comfortable conversation. Reno was told all about Cuahl, and the slight threat they prove, yet only if attacked first. Reno explained how he and Kit really bonded over a singed tail. And Talc continued to make sense of the situation, reasoning out that Kit had such a bond so as to attack to protect Reno, though not himself. Really the two had a symbiotic relationship, each looked out for the other so far. Thank Gaia they hadn’t been put to the test, or anyone would have done away with the Cuahl in no time.


They had conversed till Reno was falling asleep sitting up. Talc had put out their fire after they’d made coffee again, then carried the soundly sleeping boy over to what looked to be his bed. Maybe the man could help make a better sleeping platform, he could purchase an army issue sleeping roll for each of them. That would repay the boy for letting Talc into his little world so easily. Yeah, this boy would be a bit of fun to be around for the time.

~~~Few weeks later~~~

Reno had long since learned that Talc was as mischievous as he was rebellious, the young man was the ultimate of all pick-pockets. He also really knew how to fight. Reno had been horrified the first couple of times the man had slipped some Gil from some visitor’s pockets on one of their frequent visits to the small square of shops. He’d immediately bought Reno a dark jacket; it could be cinched tight, high up around Reno’s mid section with a belt and flared out falling down to his calves. It had huge sleeves that Reno had to fold up quite a ways. Talc had called it an ‘investment’ that would grow with Reno.


Reno got to see Talc fight when he was ‘wrongly accused’ of bumping into a VERY notable man. Who Reno would later learn was a newbie Turk, and a fight ensued … it was a bloody mess, both men leaving each other dragging themselves away dirty bloody, and pride wounded. Talk had laughed about the whole mess, they’d been equally matched he would tell Reno. But the young Turk was so new that he would be a veritable opponent had this little Tryst happened in the future at any time. The Turk hadn’t been in uniform yet, he was TOO new. Or Talc would have never messed with the kid. But thankfully the kid had even walked away laughing… or Talc would be looking for a new place to hide out soon. The whole fight Reno had sat in horror and awe, watching the blood be spilt, he was hiding behind some wreckage. But it was only the first of more that would come.


Shortly after on another little ‘nab’ as Reno called Talc’s little ‘trysts’, as Talc called them. Reno didn’t believe they were any sort of notice to the VERY unsuspecting ‘patrons’, Talc had purchased them both sleep rolls. Those lay on top of the wooden slats and Reno’s large blanket used as a blanket for them both worked just fine. Reno still couldn’t get used to sharing a bed with anyone.


At night he would sometimes lay awake, thinking, and wondering why Talc didn’t expect him to ‘please’ him as his father had. He just couldn’t figure out why the man would lay with him, yet not touch him. It amazed Reno to no end, that Talc had not hurt him. Reno would sometimes lie on his side facing Talc and watch him breath. The more he got to know him, the more Reno admired his strength. He was everything that his father was not. Reno would smile then curl on his side tighter so that his forehead would be against Talc’s arm, and fall deeply asleep.


Talc knew the boy was growing stars in his eyes. He really wanted to be something that the boy would trust and learn from. He could really help Talc. He would pick-pocket a little just to test the waters and groom Reno to know that sometimes in life under the plate… you would have to use less than honorable to some people, means. He would laugh at how careful Reno was, he would make sure and be wearing his tee shirt and pants, with the overalls to bed, but even on top of that, Reno would also wear a long sleeve shirt over it all when Talc had bought him one for the colder days.


Talc would have laughed at Reno’s insecurity at night, if not for knowing why, the boy was afraid of being exposed at night. Obviously, someone had hurt him. Boy, did Talc understand that or what. Reno didn’t ask Talc why the man knew how to avoid and teach Reno how to protect himself against the Traffickers… but Talk knew from personal experience, the horrors that those people could inflict.


Yes, after a few weeks Talc had begun teaching the boy some different ways to strengthen his muscles. Reno had told him all about working hard for the last two years and Talc could tell, Reno had some young muscle, already well developed. But with these new methods, Talc would help Reno find steel rods, or other devices that Reno could use, to build up muscle through repetitive movements. Talc WOULD train this boy to be a help to him…


Reno felt more and more awe as time went on, and he saw more fights. Talc must have seen that because Reno was amazed when Talc decided to start teaching him some self defense. Talc had come out of their little shack on a particularly hotter day than normal. In his hands he carried one of the particularly shorter pipes, or rods from behind the door.


Reno was sitting by the fire waiting for some water to heat up for his and Talc’s after dinner coffee. He was witling on a piece of wood with a new knife that Talc had given him. It was way better than the one that had been his fathers. And Reno acted as if it was Shiva itself. It was silver with white an blue ivory on the handle. ‘sweet Shiva’ he exclaimed when Talc had handed it to him. Talc had replied with ‘as good a name as ever, huh’ so the sweet flip blade was always on Reno’s person from that day forward. Talc had helped Reno fashion a holder for him with leftover material from the sling they had made together for holding a bottle up to collect the water, which they’d alternate every other day. The little holder was perfect for Reno to keep ‘Shiva’ under the edge of Reno’s pant’s waistline.


He since had begun trying to make something from the smaller scraps of wood, he wanted to make a likeness of Kit, he remembered with fondness how much his mother had loved a small statuette of a baby wrapped in a blanket, that she had been given by a neighbor that she had cared for when they were ill. Sadly, he cringed when he remembered the day his father had gotten furious at Reno for playing with sticks on the floor while his mother readied dinner. His father had beaten him badly, and probably his mother as well, though it was after Reno had been put to bed that he had heard flesh connect, but no cries from him mother. His father had burned the statuette the next morning saying that having senseless things made Reno do senseless acts. That was when he’d been ordered to start finding work, part time for then.


Reno sat down the piece of wood with unshed tears in his eyes. He looked up at Talc, expecting to be reproved. He was doing something senseless, maybe Talc wouldn’t like it; maybe he was coming to hit him with that thin pipe.


When Talc was met with such sadness, it made him stop in his tracks. He held his free hand out shaking it. “Whoa boy, whatcha sad for huh?” He smiled at Reno hoping that whatever it was would change, he wanted to see the boy’s face light up when he walked out with a proposal for learning self defense.


“I’m sorry, Yo. I won’t do it no more.” Reno kicked the wood with his foot for emphasis.


Talc scrunched up his nose and closed his eyes. “Look boy, I don’t want you to think you can’t do what you want. Whoever taught you, you couldn’t, sucks.” He leaned down and picked up the carving. “Its Kit isn’t it?” And when a soft nod was his answer he added. “It’s a good start, I think you should keep going though, I don’t think your done yet, huh?” And when Reno’s face turned into a thankful and relieved child’s face he knew he’d hit it on the head. This kid had been put down, bad. Maybe if He gave the kid some confidence, then Reno would really grow.


“You know Reno, I believe if you keep growing and learning the way you do, you’ll be a force to contend with.” He stepped forward placing a hand on Reno’s shoulder. “And starting today, lets teach you how to fight off the bad guys, huh?” Talc handed Reno the pipe.


Reno didn’t tell Talc how much his words had moved him. He looked up again at the young man that was growing into the closest to a hero that Reno had ever been to. In fact, the notion of a SOLDIER, or Turk, no longer even registered in his head… no, he wanted to be …just like Talc. His eyes shone bright with unshed tears again, but with a smile on his face, and took the metal from Talc’s hand.


Talc knew that the boy would remain loyal now… He could really teach him. And once he learned some fighting skills, he could take him on trips to other sectors and begin picking up with his responsibilities again.

~~~Few months later~~~

“Whadaya mean Yo!?” Reno tipped his head cocky and glared at the man who was his constant companion. “I am NOT doing your dirty work alone this time, YOU will help me, or I’m not cooking when we get home, man.”


Talc looked at Reno from under the edge of his Hat. The boy had grown not only in height quite a bit, but in mouth. Talc chuckled; he had the best teacher of all. “You will do as I say, or I’m not teaching you more tricks huh?”


Reno’s ego deflated. They had been hopping sectors for over a month now and Talc had taught him the ropes. After teaching Reno about the two main types of traffickers; the Drug and Weapons ones, and the human ones, Reno soon learned that Talc specialized in interfering with the drug and weapons traffickers. Bottom line, he stole from them to provide to a secret source of money and he also ran interference for that secret source, if someone else stepped onto that man’s grounds. He knew, there was MUCH more he needed to learn.


Talc had taught Reno many things over the past few months, from fighting one on one pretty well, to the basics of pick-pocketing, swiftness and speed. Agility was a bonus, and Reno’s natural yet unique talents of reading a person and observation were an added bonus to the mix. And if Talc wasn’t mistaken Reno seemed to have a natural inclination to knowing when something bad was going to turn up. The kid would go somewhere one day. If Talc’s ‘job’ didn’t cut him out of the game early…


Reno looked back at the two, bottom of the line thugs that Talc had mainly taken out, though Reno had helped quite a bit also. He’d have to clean up the mess and gather anything useful from the men. They were unconscious. But Reno still hated toying with them, but Talc was busy going through the merchandise. Reno didn’t like knowing so much about drugs now… but learning the weapons… Now that was sweet.


When they went out on these little Tryst’s, Reno would always show Kit the sign for staying behind and keeping hidden. He only hoped that each time he left he wasn’t putting his friend in any danger. The feline had grown very large. Probably full grown now… but Reno didn’t have anything to compare him to so he only guessed.


With a groan the youth set out to get the scene cleaned and the thugs stripped of anything useful at all. But they needed to rush before the guard would make their round in this section. “Well at least help me lift this heavy jackass, Yo.” Reno called out to Talc from the ground beside the larger of the two men.


They would make their way back the same way they got there. Reno’s awe of the train system had diminished to untrusting wariness. His coat came in handy to carry things on the train along with the ease of transportation without fear of being caught thanks to a gift of gloves of his own. Reno had been surprised the first time Talc took off for the day on his own and came back with the supple and brand new leather gloves. They were still a bit too big for him, but Reno’s hands were already lean like a man’s. They’d grow. So he was completely set for inter section travel. And no one carded him at the station. Between his weight register on the platform and his build they assumed he was with his parent.


After the cleanup they rode back in silence. Reno only glancing at his hero from time to time, Talc was the kindest person he’d ever known next to his mother. And he had yet to hurt Reno physically aside from in training skirmishes. But there was still a sense of secrecy or darkness to the young man.


Reno waited till they were safely on their walk back to their shack before he opened his mouth again. “Talc… how old are you?…” the youth trailed off, not knowing if he was pushing it. He looked up at Talc expecting a harsh bite.


Talc stopped short. He’d expected that question a long time ago, but had fallen into the ease of not worrying about Reno’s thoughts on it. Maybe he wouldn’t care, if only he knew what I’ve been through. But instead with a grin he turned to Reno.


“I can be whatever age you’d like me to be pretty boy…” He leaned down taking Reno’s chin in his hand the way he always did when getting Reno to focus on him. This time though, there was a different feel about the energy he was putting off.


Reno’s breath hitched in his throat. He couldn’t even think of a comeback. That was certainly not the answer he was expecting. At all. If Reno would have had a weapon for his mind and heart, at that moment he would have used it. He may have been barely on the verge of 11 years of age, but he felt as if he’d had the world on his shoulders and more. He looked up at Talc with all his soul wide open to be gutted.


Talc saw the look brimming in those bright blue jewels for eyes. He had gotten the exact reaction he’d wanted, but he couldn’t pass up the chance to at least taste the sweet young flavor of the boy that adored him. Lowering his face to Reno’s, his lips brushed the boy’s. He expected a shocked and confused reaction, maybe awe. Not the reaction that DID happen.


Reno’s heart skipped at least half a dozen beats when Talc lowered his lids lazily and leaned down ever so slowly. Reno had half expected this from the 1st day the young man had shown up. But he never expected it with his own heart enflamed with such confusion as this. He closed the distance almost savagely. Their lips met but he opened up his mouth, expecting what had happened with his father, but hoping it would feel so much more, inside.


Talc felt Reno’s kiss hit him like an emotional freight train. The boy was strong and fierce about it. Definitely inexperienced, yet knowing what he wanted. But then He felt the boys lips open for him. Talc groaned, “unh…” How long had it been? His arms lifted from his side, and from Reno’s chin to wrap around the boy’s lean figure, one arm around his shoulder blades, and another pulling that tiny waist up tight to the taller of the two. He automatically deepened the kiss, allowing his tongue to slip into Reno’s mouth. He felt the boy gasp, then a slight moan into Talc’s mouth. He slowly felt out the boy’s warm mouth, tasting him, feeling him.


Reno was shocked at the depth of feeling that this caused when Talc allowed his tongue to start dancing in Reno’s mouth. It was like a monsoon of realization… this could be good... not the way it had been before… His body reacted naturally, curving up against the taller man.


Talc tightened his hold when he felt that supple body fit up tightly to his own, the boy was completely pliable to his every hairbreadth of movement. He pressed with the arm that was holding Reno around the waist, then pulled away from the Kiss, breaking his own spell.


“So, my pretty boy… that right there tells me, I’m old enough to know that I’m just what you need… you’d be nabbed by the Traffickers in an Ifrit minute if you didn’t have me, huh…” He let up regrettably on the young and warm body that was in his arms. “You don’t know the fire that you carry in your veins you little thing… you need to train yourself, and grow… you’ll be a fine young man, boy. Huh… you will…” He nodded with his eyes closed and willed himself to walk away.


He’d meant every word, but despite the image he’d wanted to express he was NOT as good hearted so as to willingly push the boy away again had he made a move again. So steeling himself he hoped his psychology had the effect that was necessary. It would hurt Reno a little but it would pale in comparison to the harm that had been done to the boy to make him this way, and nothing compared to what he’d face if he wasn’t slum-smart.


Reno felt the ache in his chest… almost before Talc had finished his words… When his Hero had pulled away like he did it tore Reno open, Talc hadn’t known that Reno had bared his heart and soul… and Reno wouldn’t tell him. His father had taught him that much shut your mouth. But the feeling that was new and so different was already planted; he couldn’t help it if it still grew despite the shattered base it was in.


Things were awkward for Reno the first night and day after that moment. He still wanted to curl to his side up to Talc like he had since months ago… but he didn’t know if he’d be shunned, the young man was friend, peer, brother, and father to Reno. But before Reno could think much of it Talc had reached out his arm with his eyes closed. And Reno curled under it, feeling a sense of warmth and protection.


The following day passed by slowly, Talc had announced that he needed to run an errand without Reno, so Reno sadly watched him go, but whittled for a bit, then played with Kit like he hadn’t in a long time. It helped to ease him out of the sense of aching discomfort that he had felt since the day before. He ran, romped, and wrestled with the large feline… it was so nice it felt warm.


Reno realized with a sudden sense of longing, that the last time he’d felt this warm had been when his mother told him a story of life in the sun, or sang to him…


Lying back on the gravelly dirt, Reno and Kit lay there day dreaming till a peaceful sleep claimed them both. Training, exercising and what naught could come tomorrow… this afternoon alone with his smaller childhood companion he would dream of being in his mothers warm and soothing arms… not of the warm arms of his Hero and teacher…

~~~End Chapter 9~~~


A/N:

Sorry that this update took a while. I was a bit run down, distracted, depressed, and busy… some busy in the good way… Reading other people’s works and such… and communicating with my new friend! And some bad busy… yuckyness with custody, stress, family members health, and insomnia. But hey, I’m here. And this story is my stress release.. So I’m all good!


I need to take a minute and thank Princess Turk, for being a wonderful new and close friend… we are sisters and twins… separated by space and time! She is an inspiration… and an awesome support!!! Thank you *hugs* Read her stuff!!!


And thank you to anyone who has left reviews… it means so much!


Hopefully I will have another chapter within 24 hours… that’s what I will try for! And I want to work on some other works!


Ta ta for now!