(A/N: Okay, hey guys, now just to let you know, I'll Find A Way Back To You is on hiatus for now. I don't expect to be gone forever, just until the new season of House gets back up and I get back to my medical obsessions. This story is just a kind of filler-in until then. Summary: When Kadaj severely injures Rude, he is captured and forced to become Reno's slave. What will happen when Reno and Kadaj are forced to spend every minute of their lives together? Will love blossom between the two unlikely mates? I own nothing as usual. Warnings for story: language, mature themes, lemons in later chapters, possible abuse of Kadaj by Reno, and bunnies. BEWARE THE RABID BUNNIES!!!!!!!!! Ehem, enjoy and pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease review!!!!)
Chapter One: The Condemned
Reno tapped his Electro-Magnetic Rod (EMR) across his shoulder as he flicked a cigarette into a nearby trashcan. His footsteps sounded throughout the hallway as he walked down the CHIMERA Corporation hallway. Rufus Shinra, one of the leaders of the Corporation, had given him and Rude the day off to heal after recent injuries wounded them in battle. Reno had only suffered a few scratches, but Rude hadn't been so lucky. Reno could see Rude's face now as Kadaj's Souba had pierced his chest. Reno swung his EMR so that it banged against the steel wall. Clenching his fist, Reno took in a deep breath. He had a job to do. Kadaj's gang's hearing was today, and he wouldn't miss it because of a few scratches. Reno personally would see that Kadaj specifically got the punishment he deserved.
"Reno, you came. Not that I'm surprised, though," a voice said from an open doorway.
"Heh, you know me, Vincent. I wouldn't miss this for the world," Reno replied coolly as he kept walking. A sudden hand on his shoulder made him stop and turn around, however.
"Reno, you know that we both want to make sure Kadaj is punished, but don't let what happened to Rude get your mind off track. This will be fair."
Reno looked up at Vincent and stiffly nodded his head. "Yeah, sure."
Vincent let go, and Reno abruptly turned around and resumed walking. Reno knew Vincent was looking out for him, but Reno didn't need to be looked after. He was an adult, you know.
Making his way to one of the newly built center rooms, Reno paused before the door. A sign on the door clearly read "NO WEAPONS" Giving a sigh; Reno pocketed his EMR and opened up the doors.
The room was built in a giant circle with benches winding around, leading into the center of the room where a cage was perched upon a slightly raised platform. Three high chairs were seated in front of the cage. The cage itself was anything but normal – brandished steel that emitted a nasty and powerful shock if you so much as stuck your fingers through the bars, it was nine feet high and wide enough to hold an elephant…or Rude. However, Rude wasn't the one on trial today.
Reno took the nearest open seat he could find – it didn't surprise him that the place was packed - and watched as Tseng, Reeve, and Rufus Shinra took the three high chairs. They were a very unlikely trio, but after Kadaj and his gang had been found alive and been captured, AVALANCHE, ShinRa, and the Turks had become one organization known from now on as CHIMERA. CHIMERA was dedicated to helping the common people, restoring peace, and keeping everything from politics to money evenly balanced. Nobody thought that the three very different groups would be able to work together, since they had once fought against each other, but surprisingly there hadn't been any disputes…yet.
The lights in the room began to slowly dim as several spotlights shined on the cage and the three leaders of CHIMERA. Slowly the floor beneath the cage opened up and a platform was raised up. Upon it stood the form of the big and bulky member of Kadaj's gang. What was his name? Roz? Oh, yeah, Loz.
"Loz, Remnant of Sephiroth, you have been arrested and summoned here for the damage done to a local Church; the attempted murder of an entire population of innocent people; the attempts made at bringing Sephiroth back to Earth; the following of Kadaj, Leader of the Remnants of Sephiroth; taking part in the horrible acts of torturing two of our best agents – Tseng and Elena; and obstructing the general peace. You have committed several serious crimes and are to receive a final sentence. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Tseng's voice rang out clearly.
Loz sniffled a little before responding slowly, "What are you going to do to Yazoo and Kadaj?"
"We will give them a fair trial and sentence – the same treatment as you," Tseng assured him.
Loz didn't look too reassured as he looked around. Reno sat smirking down at the man when suddenly the ape's gaze met Reno. The two stared at each other for a long moment before Loz gasped silently. Glancing back at the high chairs, Loz looked in genuine fear.
"Is there anything else you wish to say in your defense?" Tseng asked calmly.
Loz looked back at Reno and asked, "What about Mother?"
"All traces of the geostigma are gone, Loz. Never again will Jenova's cells be infused into any innocent beings. Your Mother is dead, Loz."
"No, that can't be. 'Daj said we would see Mother again. He promised," Loz spat out as he began sobbing.
"Kadaj is in our control now, and Jenova is never coming back again," Rufus Shinra said bluntly.
Loz looked at President Shinra and swallowed another sob. His gaze returned to Reno who was quickly getting bored with the whole affair.
"Loz," Tseng began.
Loz looked at him before choking out, "I want to be with Mother. I want to be with Yazoo."
"What about Kadaj?" Reeve suddenly asked.
Loz's lower lip trembled as he said, "'Daj forced Yazoo and I to hurt people. I don't want to hurt people anymore. Yazoo told me to choose whatever path would lead us away from 'Daj. I…I want to go where Kadaj can't make us follow him any longer."
Tseng looked at Reeve and Pres. Shinra for an answer. Surprisingly it wasn't any of them that answered.
"Loz, there is a way for you to be with Yazoo in a place where Kadaj can follow if he repents for his sins like you just have. However, I highly doubt Kadaj will go there; if he does, though, he wouldn't be able to make you do anything you don't want to do ever again. I think you will be very happy there, but you wouldn't be able to come back to Earth ever again. What do you think, Loz?"
All heads turned to see a spiky-haired-chocobo standing in a doorway leading out into the hallways from the lower level.
"Cloud Strife, what is the meaning of this?" Pres. Shinra asked as he stood up.
Heh, so Spikey decided to show after all, Reno thought with a smirk. Seems to me this is getting to be a party.
Cloud held up a hand, and said quickly, "Please, with all due respect, I think I know how to speed things along quicker." Walking forward until he stood in front of the cage, Cloud looked up at Loz. "Loz, there is a wonderful place where all of the deceased ones go once they die. It is a place called the Lifestream. Have you heard of it?"
There were several murmurs around the room as Cloud looked at Loz expectantly.
Slowly Loz nodded. "Yeah, 'Daj mentioned it once. But why would you send me to a wonderful place like that? Isn't that where that girl went?"
Cloud, Reno, and the Leaders didn't have to ask to know that Loz was talking about Aerith Gainsborough.
Cloud nodded and Reno could tell he was trying to keep his voice steady. "That is correct, Loz, but you can think of this as a second chance. Don't you want to be reunited with your family at peace?"
"Kadaj and Yazoo…"Loz trailed off.
"Yazoo will follow you to the Lifestream, trust me. As for Kadaj, let us take care of him. You and Yazoo will be reunited in a place of eternal rest and peace."
Loz looked from Cloud, to the Leaders, to Reno, and back to Cloud who nodded.
"I want to go to the Lifestream," Loz said finally. "But will it hurt?"
Cloud smiled at the man and shook his head. "You won't feel a thing."
Loz was led out, and the most feminine one, Yazoo, was brought into the cage. This one had always interested Reno. He never seemed to give a shit about anything, but certainly had a mutual connection with his brothers. He was a brilliant fighter, and Reno had secretly enjoyed fighting him only for the surge of adrenaline he felt while fighting the gender-bender. Reno couldn't help but lean in his seat to see where this trial would go for the Remnant.
After greeting Yazoo the same way he had greeted Loz and reading the man his crimes, Tseng asked Yazoo if there was anything he would like to say. Yazoo's gaze skimmed the crowd and Reno felt his heart stop when the man's gaze landed on him.
What am I, a Remnant magnet?
"Yazoo?" Tseng asked.
"What happened to Loz?"
"He will be going to the Lifestream. My advice for you is to follow him."
"And if I say no?" Yazoo asked.
There was a deathly silence as Reeve was the one who answered, "You will be sentenced to a punishment far worse than death."
Yazoo nodded as his gaze returned to me.
"I choose my brother's path. I will go with Loz to the Lifestream. Whatever Kadaj decides will be his own decision. I want nothing more to do with him or Sephiroth." The amount of hatred in Yazoo's voice surprised even Reno.
Reeve sat back clearly satisfied as Pres. Shinra nodded. "Is there anything else you wish to say?"
"Before I go, could I possibly have one last word with that imbecile redhead servant of yours? I believe his name is Reno Sinclair," Yazoo said.
Reno could feel the looks of the people around him shifting to him, but he kept his gaze on Yazoo.
"I guess that would be all right – but you only have five minutes. Cloud, if you would please escort him," Pres. Shinra said.
Cloud nodded, and Reno made his way down the aisles to the center of the room where he followed Spikey and Yazoo into a special room that was bulletproof, soundproof, and inescapable.
"So what do you want, Yazy?" Reno asked with a bored smirk.
"Just tell me one thing, Turk. Loz. Will he really be sent to the Lifestream?"
Reno exchanged a quick glance with Cloud who nodded.
"Yes, Remnant, he will join everybody else in the Lifestream. You called me out here for just that?"
"Also, it's about Kadaj. I was told that he hurt your…partner, correct?"
Reno's fists clenched as his blood ran cold.
"Yeah, so?"
"Kadaj is an idiot," Yazoo said bluntly. "He is an idiot who thinks he can have whatever he wants. Don't drop your guard around him for a second, especially after he says no to your kind offer."
"How do you know he won't go to the Lifestream?" Reno asked.
"That wound that injured your partner. It wasn't meant for him," Yazoo said.
"What the hell are you saying?" Reno's voice slightly shook.
"I'm saying that Kadaj wants you dead, you stupid Turk. Not Strife, or Shinra, or any of them. He specifically wanted you dead."
"But why me? Cloud's the one that busted his ass, not me."
Yazoo shrugged. "I'm not sure why, but you're his new obsession. I suggest getting out of here before Kadaj has even the slightest reason to attack. Think about it, Turk. Today was your day off to recover, correct? As far as Kadaj is concerned, you are lying in a hospital, maybe even dead from battle scars that he himself inflicted. You have an aura about you that attracts others to you without you even realizing it. If you are even within a ten mile radius of this building by the time Kadaj comes, he will know that you are alive and he will stop at nothing to see you dead."
"Why are you telling me this? I thought Kadaj was your brother?"
Yazoo's face fell slightly. "He was before he became too obsessed with recreating Sephiroth and bringing back Jenova that he nearly got Loz and I killed. I want to see him dead, but not with Loz and I. Promise me that after I leave this place to join Loz in the Lifestream, you will get far away from here. I don't want to see anyone else hurt because of Kadaj's selfish actions. Promise me, Turk."
"Okay, okay, I promise. Now go join your brother scum in the Lifestream," Reno dismissed.
"He is not scum," Yazoo said with a sad smile, but let himself be led away by a group of top guards.
After he was gone, Cloud turned to Reno.
"You're really going to leave?"
"Hell no, but it sure made him shut up and leave, didn't it?" Reno said as he leaned against the wall.
"Reno, if what Yazoo said about Kadaj being crazy for your blood is true –"
"Then it will just give me another reason to kill the bastard freak. Don't worry Cloud, I won't die, if that's what you're worried about."
"I'm not worried about you dying, I'm worried about what will happen to –" Cloud instantly cut himself off before he could finish the rest. Looking away he said quietly, "Just do what Yazoo said for once. Get out of here and enjoy your day off. I'll call you as soon as I know what Kadaj's outcome will be. I promise."
Reno knew that there was no way he was getting around Cloud Strife, especially after the blonde set his sights on keeping Kadaj from killing Reno. Sighing he held up his hands in surrender.
"All right, all ready, I'll go. But you had better tell me everything that happens, or else."
Cloud nodded and Reno left the room. As soon as he was sure Spikey couldn't see him anymore, Reno doubled around so that he could get into the trial room through another door. Kadaj be damned, Reno was going to make sure that Kadaj got the torture he deserved for hurting Rude. And what better way than to lure him straight to the redhead?
-----
Kadaj sat on the hard and freezing floor of his cell as he waited for a bunch of lackeys to come and get him. He didn't know what had happened to his brothers, but knowing Yazoo, he would do anything to keep Loz and himself from getting into any more trouble with Kadaj.
Yazoo.
The mere thought of his brother made Kadaj's blood run cold. He remembered how Yazoo had managed to turn Loz partially against Kadaj, and how the two had been attempting to escape when those idiot Turks had arrived and ruined their plans. It was all those Turks' fault. It was his fault that Yazoo and Loz had left him - that entire stupid redhead Turk's fault.
Kadaj looked up as the door of his cell opened up and he recognized the forms of Cid Highwind and Barret Wallace standing in the cell's doorway.
"Come on Remnant, we ain't got all day," Cid complained.
Kadaj allowed himself to be handcuffed and led to the trial room.
Oh That Turk would pay.
He would pay with his life.
-----
Reno could feel his fingers itching as he crept into the trial room. Gazing down he saw that his…rival? Enemy? Future first death as a CHIMERA agent? - Was standing in the cage glaring at the Leaders of CHIMERA. As soon as Reno entered and his eyes connected with Kadaj's, however, all time seemed to stop.
Reno could feel a sudden thirst for the Remnant's blood boiling through his veins. Never could he remember a time when he felt like this – where an undeniable urge to kill filled him with such passion. Images of Rude's strong body as Souba pierced his chest and blood poured everywhere kept replaying themselves in Reno's mind as he gazed into those green eyes that had given him nightmares so many times before.
Let him find me. I want to see the pain in his eyes as I beat him to death with my EMR.
-----
Kadaj felt his mouth curve into a smile as the redhead's glare tried to burn a hole in his face. Yazoo's betrayal, the destruction of his great plans to bring back Sephiroth, him and his brothers getting captured – it was that Turk's entire fault. Kadaj licked his lips as he thought of seeing the blood pour out of the correct Turk's body. There would be no more mistakes.
Let me grab him. I want to see the pain in his eyes as I stab him through with Souba.
-----
"Kadaj, Remnant of Sephiroth, you have been arrested and summoned here for your various crimes against the common people. You have made several attempts to bring back Sephiroth; recreate Jenova; you have tortured two of our best agents – Tseng and Elena; kidnapped innocent children; and there is reason to believe that you forced your brothers to help you against their will. You have two choices: you can take the same path as your brothers and let Gaia herself decide if you are worthy enough to join your brothers in the Lifestream, or you can suffer eternal servitude for as long as you are alive. Either choice will eventually lead to death. Have you anything to say on your behalf?"
Kadaj – who had never taken his gaze away from Reno throughout Tseng's speech – asked slowly, "If I chose servitude, whom would I be a slave to?"
Reno's ears perked up at this and he turned his gaze to look down at the high chairs.
Tseng and Reeve exchanged a look, but Pres. Shinra asked, "If there is anyone here who thinks they are strong enough, or wise enough to become this Remnant's captor, let them speak."
There was silence shortly before Reno stood up and called out, "I think I can do it, Pres. Shinra."
All eyes turned to him as Reno practically leaped down the stairs to stand before the cage and its Leaders. He saw Kadaj's eyes flash, and Reno's smile grew.
"You, Mr. Sinclair? When I said someone wise, you were one of the last people on my list. Besides, shouldn't you be recovering? I thought I had given you the day off," Pres. Shinra said with cold suspicion.
"You did give me the day off, sir, but I had to come here. Rude was hurt by this…monster, and I want to be the one to make him suffer eternal damnation."
There was much murmuring throughout the room as the Leaders examined Reno closely.
"I think it's a good choice. Let this one be the man to make Kadaj suffer for all of his crimes. I say yea to his offer," Reeve said as he sat back in his chair.
"My fellow Leaders of CHIMERA, Reno here is clearly out to get revenge for the injuries done to his partner. Don't you think every action he chooses, every decision he makes, will be based solely on revenge? I say nay to his offer," Tseng said wisely.
Reno watched Pres. Shinra as he thought about what his own response would be. Leaning forward, he asked, "Reno Sinclair, do you swear by your life that you will not raise a hand or weapon against this Remnant for as long as he is in your custody?"
Reno looked back at Kadaj who looked about ready to jump out of the cage in suspense.
"But then how am I supposed to act if he attacks me or tries to escape?" Reno asked.
"You must swear not to attack him unless he tries to hurt you physically, or if he tries to leave your company."
Reno turned and walked so that his face was inches from the cage. Kadaj was standing there, stiff as a board, as the thirst for blood burned in his eyes as he breathed in Reno's smell. Reno winked at the Remnant whose face reddened with anger. (Or was it something else?)
Slowly Reno turned around and replied smoothly, "This is whack, yo. But if somebody has to take care of this piece of shit, it might as well be me. I swear to everything Pres. Shinra just said."
Reeve sighed with satisfaction as he smirked triumphantly at Tseng, who looked at Pres. Shinra. Pres. Shinra asked, "Kadaj, what is your decision?"
The room fell dead silent as Kadaj tilted his head, thinking hard about it.
Slowly a grin spread on his face as he looked Reno up and down once before saying, "Eternity, hmm? If I had to spend the rest of my miserable life with somebody, it would only be in my best of dreams that it would be spent with this Turk. I accept your offer, Shinra. I'll become this Turk's pet. Who knows? This could actually be fun…for me."
Shinra nodded, and both Reno and Kadaj smiled.
Oh, this was going to be fun.