The wind howled in the partly sheltered ally where she was curled up, attempting to hide from the rain. Her Mako blue eyes were bright with fever, and her blond hair fell limply around her body. The black jeans and shirt she was wearing wasn't helping her situation. The soaked fabric clung to her shivering form, more water running into her knee-high boots. Blood ran from a few scrapes on her arms. She sat, shivering, keeping a tight hold on the slender blades her mentor gave her before his death. The sword was strapped to her back, and the sai were in arm sheaths, gripped tightly in her hands. Her head jerked up, sending thousands of water droplets flying, when she heard the unmistakable sound of booted footsteps falling heavily on the ground. She carefully and quietly slid the blades on her arms out of the sheaths, keeping them pressed against the leather until she saw boots standing in front of her. She looked up to decide if the man in front of her was friend or foe, and lost her breath.
Mako-enhanced aquamarine eyes were staring down at her from under a pair of goggles pushed up on the owner's head. Bright red hair framed an angelic face, pale and freckled slightly. The white shirt of the black suit that was signature to the Turks was unbuttoned at the top, and the black jacket hung open freely. Her eyes traced the rippling muscles hugged by the wet fabric before trailing up to his face again. A soft smile was dancing on his lips as he held a hand out to her. She glanced at the Electro-rod in his left hand, long, elegant fingers curved around the handle, before flicking back to his extended hand, and finally his eyes again.
"I won't hurt you, yo. I wanna help." She reached a shaking hand out after sliding her blades away and grasped his hand, feeling the black leather, fingerless glove against her palm. He carefully pulled her to her feet and his smile faded when he caught sight of the tattoo on her shoulder. "Runnin' away from the Reds?" Alarmed eyes met his. "Don't worry. I can take you somewhere safe. Come on." She took two shaky steps before her knees buckled. The red-head caught her before she hit the ground and swung her up into his arms, scooping up her bag from the ground beside where she was sitting. "I guess that can be expected of someone sittin' out in the rain, yo. Name's Reno, zotto." The girl coughed slightly before answering.
"River. No last name." Reno nodded before peering out of the ally and darting across the street.
"Ok, River. You want the Turks HQ or my place?" River raised an eyebrow at her choices.
"Your choice." Reno nodded and grinned down at the girl.
"My place it is. I hope my partner's home. Damn I need a beer." River giggled a little before a strong wave of something rushed over her.
"Reno? I think I'm gonna pass out." Reno cursed as the girl went limp in his arms.
"Reno…."
"Come on, Rude! She was Runnin' from the Reds, zotto!"
"Reno. We're Turks. We're not here all of the time."
"I know! She can stay here when we're not, yo!" River slightly cracked her eyes open to see Reno sitting right beside her on a huge bed. Towering over her rescuer was a dark skinned, bald man, his large hands resting on Reno's shoulders. The red-head sighed and leaned forward, closing his eyes against the taller man's stomach. "Please, Rude. She's just the way I was when I joined the Turks." Sapphire eyes moved to the aqua-eyed man's shoulder, surprised to see a tattoo matching hers dancing under the strap of his tank top. The darker man traced the lines of the tattoo for a moment before smiling and pushing Reno away a little bit, tilting the smaller man's head up.
"I hope she's not like you. I remember someone attempting to keep the stomach of a certain redhead full almost 24/7." Reno chuckled a little.
"You're lucky I'm not like that. I clean and cook, too." Reno jumped off the bed when River spoke. The girl sat up and smiled up at the man above her. "I take it he doesn't do that either?" Rude shook his head and offered the girl a shy smile.
"No." River swung her legs out of the bed so that she was sitting on the edge.
"I know I'm not in the position to be doing this, but I'll make a deal with you. I'll cook, clean, and whatever else you ask of me in exchange for food and room." Reno waved a hand towards the girl, grinning. Rude sighed and rubbed the top of his head. River tilted her head and tried a disarming smile. The taller Turk shook his head and mumbled something that sounded like ", I'm getting too old for this" or "I can't believe I'm doing this."
"Fine." Reno crowed and danced around the room a little bit before he was grabbed and thrown onto the bed. Rude turned back to River, and the girl shrank away a little bit. "However, there is only one bed, and we are not going to allow you to sleep on the couch." River's eyes widened when she realized what was being implied.
"It's fine. I'm used to sleeping on a floor." Reno rolled his eyes and pulled the girl to lay on the bed with him, pillowing her head on his stomach.
"If they're anything like I remember, you're also used to sleeping in the same bed with multiple men. You will stay in here with us, zotto, and you'll get over it." River blushed at his phrasing, and squeaked when Rude lifted her and tossed her to lie beside Reno on the bed. The redhead automatically wrapped an arm around River's waist. The girl sighed and settled down.
"Fine."