He woke from unconsciousness and exhaustion, still lying on the table where they had left him like a discarded and forgotten toy when they had moved into the bedroom, to cuddle and tease and sleep. Even Loz had forgotten about him, which added a new layer of fear to Reno's mind.

But now the house seemed empty and silent – a bit too empty and silent. Blinking as he tried to clear his foggy brain, Reno sat up, listening. No sound of voices, of movement, even of any breathing other than his own. His heart started beating faster, now with frantic hope. Had they forgotten him? He didn't really dare to think that thought through as he moved quickly; his body was filing all kinds of complaints, but by pulling his knees to his chest and wriggling hard he managed to slide his cuffed hands over his ass – tearing a bit of skin in the process – and get his hands in front of him instead. It might not seem as much, but it gave him a lot more freedom to move; he quickly found his pants and pulled them on before padding on naked feet to the bedroom. Empty. So was the shower. The motorbikes were gone; two tracks leading away in one direction, a single on in another. They were gone. He was alone.

He wasted valuable minutes searching for the keys to the cuffs, or at least a weapon, but all he found was some canned and tinned food; not even cigarettes or booze. *Gods damned clean-living perverts! Fuck it all!* His nerves finally gave up, his ears straining for the sound of motorcycles approaching, and he threw the door open and ran for his life.

Reno came almost a kilometre before hearing what he knew he'd hear, what he'd feared all along; the sound of powerful motorcycles quickly gaining on him. Swearing and sobbing he tried to hide amongst the barren wasteland, tried dodging, doubling back, every trick he'd even known. He got another kilometre before they caught up with him, the two huge bikes tearing up dust and sand as they roared past him. He could hear wicked laughter, got a quick glance at Loz and Yazoo, before he tumbled to the ground, swore and got up again. Ducking to the left behind some rocks, crawling back in his own tracks, up on his feet again and running, running again, but it was pointless.

They drove him like dogs drive a sheep; chasing him as they wanted him to run, cutting the corners so close that the speed from the bikes made his hair and clothes snap in the wind, making him stumble and fall for their amusement, laughing all the whiles. They even let him get away, for short moments when he could gasp for breath, spit out sand and get a new surge of adrenaline to keep him going for a few more kilometres. Finally he fell and couldn't get up, panting and wheezing with exhaustion and despair, convinced that they would kill him and too tired to care, too worn down to even think of fighting back. The bikes stopped, just inches from his prone body.

"Well, that was fun." Yazoo smiled. "He makes a better rabbit than he does toy, really."

*Fuck you!* Reno thought savagely, but his lungs were aching too much to even think of talking.

"I'll take him back." Loz got off the bike and Yazoo nodded, turned his bike and sped away.

"Look, Loz," Reno coughed as the strong Remnant lifted him to his feet, fumbling for desperate words. "I can be yours, you know. Just your…toy. You don't need to share me with the others. I'll be all yours, a'right?"

"Such a little fool." Effortlessly he was lifted up over a broad shoulder and then dumped over the bike like a sack of flour. "Kadaj wants a talk."

And that thought echoed through Reno's mind all the long way back to the lodge.

Kadaj and Yazoo sat at the table when Loz hauled his runaway toy inside; Reno's knees buckled as soon as Loz let go of him and with a sigh Loz hitched him up into the remaining chair, leaning against the wall himself. Yazoo glanced curiously between Reno and Kadaj, but it was the leading brother that demanded all of Reno's attention. Kadaj looked like a cat that had caught a mouse.

"I'm so glad you could make it," he smiled. "I hope you are not too tired from my brothers' little game, Reno of the Turks."

Both Yazoo and Loz gasped; Yazoo grabbed for his weapon and Loz looking confused and almost betrayed.

"You are quite famous, you know, as Turks goes. Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" Kadaj leaned backwards, his green eyes hooded and unreadable.

"Can I…can I at least get something to drink? Please?" Reno's voice rasped in his throat; he was parched and there where no point in trying to lie anymore. They'd find out everything, sooner or later.

Kadaj gestured with his head and a stunned Yazoo found a carafe of water and four glasses. Reno drank thirstily, gulping the liquid down his dusty throat and then reaching with his still cuffed hands for the carafe again. But Kadaj was quicker; he dipped a finger in the water and horrified Reno watched the clear drink turn murky black. Kadaj poured the now poisonous-looking water into the glasses and both he and his brothers drank it with relish, but Reno could only stare. He was parched, but this was too much.

"Drink that, and all of your problems will be over." Kadaj smirked, or at least showed his teeth. "You'll be one of us, and Loz can keep you as a toy, and I'll get all my answers."

"No." Reno shook his head violently. "No!"

"Then we'll do this the hard way." Suddenly Kadaj was on his feet, grabbed Reno by his chin and lifted him up to meet face to face. Fury shone in his eyes now like a blazing fire. "Where is Mother?!"

Both Loz and Yazoo came to their feet, hissing with anger, tearing after him. There were no mercy in either of their faces, not even Loz's; whatever affection he had felt for his toy was nothing compared to his want for his Mother. *It was a fucking stupid plan anyway!*

"I don't…I don't know! I don't know, please!"

"I think he lies." Yazoo's eyes blazed green fire.

"Make him drink; that will make him talk!" Loz growled.

*So I'm finally a person, just before they erase me.* The odd thought swirled in Reno's head as he was pushed down on the table again, this time struggling for his very soul as the brothers pinned him and pressed his clenched jaws open. The glass of black water came with in sight and he screamed with horror and despair.

The glass shattered, spilling liquid everywhere, Kadaj stumbled back, grabbing at the gun-wound in his hand. Gunfire tore through the room, echoed by Yazoo's and Loz's weapons, but the door was kicked in, and Soldiers and Turks poured into the lodge. A dark figure threw himself over Reno, pulled him down from the table and away from the grabbing hands. The Remnants fought savagely but they were far too outnumbered; they were down and cuffed, their weapons wrenched from their hands even as they spat and cursed and screamed their throats raw in denial when they were dragged out to the waiting prison vans that would take them back to ShinRa.

As gently as he could, Rude lifted up his partner, but Reno seemed frantic with fear, unable to take in what had happened. He tore at Rude's suit, ripping it open, buried his face against warm, human skin, skin that didn't smell as cool as a snakes and wasn't perfect and smooth, but sweaty and human and wonderful, and hitched, sobbing cries escaping from him. Rude held him hard, near, in his arms, supporting all his weight, terrified and shocked at the strange behaviour.

Suddenly a new hand reached for his face and Reno jerked and pulled away.

"No! No! Don't touch me!" He gasped.

"What the Hell are you doing, Tseng?" Rude rumbled at their boss. "He's in shock, leave him alone!"

"I have to see his eyes, Rude. I have to see that we were in time." Tseng's voice was gentle but adamant.

Rude hesitated and Reno shut his eyes, hard, not wanting any part of this, just wanting to feel Rude here and pretend that everything would be alright.

"Reno. Reno, open your eyes, partner. Just look at me."

Slowly, and only because it was Rude that asked, Reno forced himself to open his eyes, to return to the nightmare around him. He became dimly aware that he and Rude stood in a circle, surrounded by Turks and Soldiers with their weapons aimed at them, Tseng and Elena amongst them, but he couldn't at the moment understand what that meant.

Tseng lowered his gun, almost sagging with relief, as he saw the terrified, human eyes of his young Turk.

"Alright, Rude. You can take him home. If he needs medical attention…."

"Yes, I know. Come on, partner." With only the faintest grunt of effort Rude lifted him up in his arms like a child and Reno could finally let go, clinging to his partner and burying his face against his chest.

**

Rude took him home, trying not to show how worried he was about Reno's strange and subdued behaviour. Reno didn't talk unless spoken too, didn't seem to acknowledge the world around him. He looked on, listless and uninterested as Rude helped him strip and got him into the shower; he didn't say anything as Rude started swearing over the masses of bruises and torn skin and he barely reacted to the gentle touch of soap and water as Rude washed him. It was as if something vital had died inside Reno, and Rude didn't know what to do – if indeed he could do anything – to light that spark again.

Wrapping Reno in a bathrobe, he led him into the kitchen. He gave him food and drink and Reno ate ravishingly, gulping down water and tearing into food as if it might be the last time he saw food; Rude tried to see that as a good sign. Some basic survival instinct still functioned, at least. Reno clutched to his hand, a bit too hard to be comfortable, and refused to let go no matter what Rude did; it meant having to fix everything with one hand, but he couldn't bring himself to protest. Reno craved that physical anchor to the world.

"Come on. You need to sleep."

That made Reno jerk with sudden fear, but he lowered his head and nodded. For the first time since they got back he spoke:

"Don't leave me alone in the dark. Stay with me."

Rude pulled his hand through Reno's hair, kissed his forehead.

"Of course I will."

The bed was big, but Reno didn't seem to be able to get close enough; not until they were both naked and he was all but lying on top of Rude could he relax. It was as if his entire body so desperately needed a friendly touch, a caring presence, as if it could suck up caring and love through every pore. Finally he fell asleep.

He woke, screaming and clawing, frantic with fear as he hit the body next to him to get away, away…

"Reno!" Rude parried the wild swings, not daring to grab his partner to make him stop. That could only make it worse. "Reno, stop it!"

Blinking and gasping Reno pulled himself together, slowly realising where he was, that it was Rude lying next to him, now with fresh bruises.

"Rude, I'm so sorry," he stammered, not knowing if he talked about the nightmare or what he had put himself through by ignoring orders. Tears ran unheeded down his face. "I'm so sorry, I'm such a fool!"

"Yeah." Rude pulled him back down into the embrace. "But you are my little fool. And I won't let them have you. You understand?"

For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Reno smiled. It was a weak smile, but it was a start.

***

To be continued in: Angels and Demons. What will happen to the Remnants when back in Hojo's care, and how will Reno react?