XP: My apologies for taking so long! This chapter may also seem a little compressed and undeveloped, but I hope you guys like it regardless :)

Thanks to my awesome reviewers that make me love writing: AndDownWeGo, zexydemyx66 and Rangerapprentice! :D

***Chapter IV: Tseng***

***TsengXReno****

Intelligent blue-green eyes watched curiously as the owner of said eyes stalked the men in suits in the night. It was his favorite game. He liked to see how close he could get to them and how long he could stay on their trail before they found him. He did it when they were busy on missions in the slums, too busy to catch a pesky troublemaker like him. Right now, he was perched on a high metallic roof of a factory, watching the Turks stalk around with guns in their hands with amusement.

He often liked to strain their nerves by dropping various objects and making sounds, making them flinch and whip around with their guns raised. It was hilarious to see them do it over an empty can, or just a regular rock. They'd look up for the source that made the noise, but Reno would have fled to a new hiding spot by now. He could tell that Tseng knew it was him, and was getting increasingly weary and irritated.

"Reno, I have no time for your games," Tseng muttered in frustration, and Reno smirked in the alley behind him, squatting on top of a closed garbage bin.

"What'cha doing today, dot-man?" Reno cooed.

The closeness of the drawl made Tseng widen his eyes in shock. How had Reno gotten behind him without making a sound, in a matter of seconds from the building opposite? All of the Turks cursed and turned around to point their guns at Reno, jittery. However, Tseng was renowned for his aptitude in keeping composed, and he merely said, "That's classified." And he shot, but Reno leaped casually off the garbage bin, a hole where his foot had been.

"It's always 'classified' with you," Reno rolled his eyes, sticking out his tongue. "Ugh, you're no fun. But, I know what you're up to today."

Mischievous, Reno smirked and pointed northwest. "It's the warehouse. Your targets have hidden there. It's up to you to trust me or not, but if you don't listen, well... I guess it'd be a long night checking out all the buildings."

Tseng glared at him. "What do you have to gain from this?"

"What if I decided to be nice for once?" Reno pouted with a mock-hurt look. Turks were his favorite toys, and if they were tired from their missions, they had no time to play with him on the streets in their game of chase. Apparently, Tseng knew this too, because he merely threw Reno a warning look and motioned for his men to move ahead. "I'll be waiting," Reno purred, and stepped back into the shadows, unseen. A great feat that Turks took time to train, to mold to the shadows silently.

Reno didn't give them false information, indeed. But he did leave out one major detail. He had been paid to lure them there, and the whole structure was layered with intricate traps. Starting with a bomb that severely injured most of the Turks that rushed in, making them require a 'tactical retreat'. Reno was laughing his ass off at the sour look Tseng threw his way before Reno ducked to escape a gunshot. But to Reno's surprise, Tseng went in alone, and no other traps were heard triggered, and soon, repetitive gun shots and screams of his temporary employers were heard. Reno was impressed, and that was the night he gained respect for that one single Turk among all the rest. But that was the night where Tseng's hatred of Reno grew exponentially and he swore to catch the damn little pain in the ass.

***Damn Reno!***

***Money!***

The gil jingled happily in Reno's pocket, who was whistling as he strutted along throughout town, eating a piece of bread. He had on newer clothes, and he was actually semi-clean for once, being able to afford a shower. Other than his dangerous habit of toying with Turks, Reno had also become addicted to double-crossing, and that earned him double the gil in the same amount of time. Though talented and clever for a teen his age, his carelessness due to his latest streak of successes would soon lead to trouble. He was complacent, his guard was lowered, and he was proudly walking about, like a chicken who didn't know it was up for slaughter.

He didn't know that survivors of his double-crossing were plotting his death, and were planning to put a bounty on his head to capture him this very night. Skilled as he were, Reno had low chances of evading trained mobs who were in this business much longer than he was, armed with artillery that he lacked. Reno had a knife. They had guns. That, added with Tseng who was out for his head due to him putting out several promising Turk recruits... well, Reno was pretty much screwed.

Reno did notice more eyes on him than usual, with increasing murderous intent. But when he decided to hightail his way out of the crowded areas, all of his enemies were already spread out in various alleys over several slums. It would be the most challenging cat-and-mouse game of Reno's life. Reno sneaked into an alley, and scaled the pipes to the roof, and was shocked to see leering eyes upon him. He jumped back down immediately, and dashed off, bullets hot on his trail.

That was the evening. Reno continued to run into various alleys, scale walls, go into abandoned buildings, but everywhere he went, hostile forces existed. Reno became increasingly desperate and tired, and he went into further sectors, but they seemed to follow him everywhere. He had even thrown his gil away, as they made too much sound in his pocket. He was lucky enough to not get shot yet, but if he kept this up, he knew he would be a dead slum rat. He had to throw them off his trail and find a safehouse fast.

It was just then that he luck ran out. In his most frequented building, was Tseng. He should have known that the more he knew about the Turk's patterns, the more Tseng knew about his as well. They shared an analytic mind that found out more about their opponent the more run-ins and interactions they had. Tseng left no mercy, and shot his thigh.

"Ugh!" Reno stumbled in shock at the sharp pain that suddenly pierced him, unable to evade due to how worn out he was. Tseng's motive was not to kill. He was a Turk, and Reno was a valuable information source. Reno knew that Tseng wanted to capture him for 'questioning', in other words, torture. He was going to slow his movements, and then bring him to HQ to take his time. And it was at this realization that Reno regretted toying with Tseng as much as he did. Tseng might seem like a patient man, but he was actually the most impatient Turk you could ever find, who always wanted to settle business, and to do just that. And Reno, Reno always wanted the thrill, the fun.

Tseng raised his gun for another shot, and Reno instantly threw his knife, striking Tseng's wrist, making him drop the gun. Hurriedly, Reno grit his teeth and ran past Tseng, a daring move, but he knew the window he came from was blocked off. Tseng cursed, and picked up his gun, chasing Reno immediately.

Hot tears ran down Reno's face at the excruciating pain it took him just to move. He was leaving blood trails everywhere, and it was becoming increasingly easy to find him. "Fuck!" Reno screamed, knowing he would soon be caught. But he wasn't giving up without a fight. He made a daring move to leap out of the window into the opposite building, which was surprisingly empty. Reno continued to run, and hid into a metal closet. He held a hand over his mouth to muffle his gasps for air. His lungs burned, his feet were sore, his head pounded, and his fucking thigh- it hurt like a bitch. His new clothes were now caked in mud and sweat, and Reno leaned his head against the wall of the closet he was in, appreciating the fact that he was still alive.

It scared the fuck out of him when a gun shot pierced the closet. The whole metal closet shook with the force, and with it, Reno as well. He started to sob, he knew Tseng had found him, and there was no where out. He stared at his beat up sneakers wondering if he should go out and face his fate or stay in here to delay the inevitable. He started to cry harder and harder realizing how stupid he had been, pretending to be some smartass that was untouchable. He could've escaped the gangs if he had laid low for the Turks. Or he could've escaped the Turks if he didn't double-cross the gangs and seek refuge from them. Why did he have to be a little idiot and play with fire?

Reno bawled, hugging himself. He didn't want to die. He was still just a teen. He had fought his way in the slums to survive, to make a name for himself, and he didn't want it to end this way. The metal closet's door opened with uncharacteristic gentleness, and there Tseng was, staring at him with undecipherable emotions. Reno lifted his tear filled eyes and stared back at him, pleading.

"I'll..." Reno hiccupped, shaking badly. "I'll tell ya everything. Everything. Please lemme go... lemme go..."

Tseng continued to look at the boy before him. He was so young. Tseng was baffled, looking at the sight of Reno crying. It never registered in his mind how young Reno actually was. He had always thought of Reno as a foe of the Turks. Not the most dangerous one, but the hardest to apprehend. The most challenging out of all the missions he had been given. He suddenly saw Reno in a different light.

"I'm very sorry, I shouldn't have..." Reno sobbed, heaving for breath. "Please... Please Tseng..."

He saw the desperation, saw the youth, saw the potential. Tseng couldn't raise his arm to shoot the life out of Reno. He looked so skinny and tiny, squeezed in the closet like that, knees drawn up. He was so pale from the blood lost, and his eyes so hopeless and desolate. Reno didn't think Tseng would spare him, Tseng saw that. Tseng had a reputation as a no nonsense Turk who killed on sight and left no room for arguments. And yet- he was hesitating.

"Tseng, please... please..." Reno begged, lips blubbering.

Here was a boy who had the wits to evade the Turks, to make gangs kill each other, to gain such a notoriety that there was almost no one who didn't know him. Reno had outsmarted Tseng so many times with half-truths and traps. And the boundless stamina and knowledge, to run through all the sectors almost unscathed the whole night, knowing the layout like his own home. The spontaneity, instinct and accuracy to throw a knife to disarm Tseng to evade what should have been a death situation... Tseng always made unheard of decisions that always turned out well. And he knew he would be right in this one.

"I'm not letting you go."

Reno wailed, hiding his face with his hands. His blood continued to drip, and he knew that was what led Tseng to the closet. He gulped in air, as though hyperventilating, as though that was the last chance he'd ever be able to breath.

"Reno, do you have any parents?"

The odd question startled him, and Reno looked up with his tear streaked face, and saw that barely perceptible hint of softness in Tseng's eyes. Hope started to well within him.

"N-No," Reno stuttered.

"Would you like to join the Turks?" Tseng had asked the prior question to see if he had to pay to get the boy into Shinra. Reno's eyes widened, and his tears stopped in his disbelief.

"Are you serious?" Reno gaped.

"Do I ever joke?" Tseng deadpanned.

"But I'm a- I'm a... slum rat..." Reno mumbled as Tseng offered a hand to him. Reno grabbed it with his own small one, which Tseng marveled at. These small hands were capable of doing so much. Tseng helped him out of the closet, and Reno shuddered at the coldness of the night. His adrenaline rush from his run had disappeared, and he was tired. He stumbled into Tseng, who steadied him, and draped his Turk's blazer over him. At the action, Reno realized Tseng was in fact serious. Reno slid into the blazer, and it was so large it hung off him loosely. Reno sniffled, wiping away his tears with the sleeves.

Tseng squatted down, showing his back to Reno. "Get on."

Reno blinked at the action of trust. Tseng was showing his back to him! Gingerly, he got on, and Tseng lifted the light boy, careful of the wound on his thigh. Tseng's back was very warm, and Reno found his eyes closing at how comfortable it was. It was a strange feeling, being so close to the man he had spent months antagonizing. But Reno felt safe, so he snuggled into the man's back and promptly dozed off.

***zzz***

***In Shinra***

The next few days, Tseng spent fighting for his rights. Reno just sat quietly in his chair as Tseng stood beside him and debated his usefulness to the Shinra heads, him being a valuable asset to the Turks, his ability to blend into the slums, etc. Tseng was basically praising him to the skies, and it was the first time Reno heard someone speak so well of him, that he was in fact a little embarrassed. The Shinra dudes didn't trust Reno. But Tseng did. And that was all Reno needed. So when they threw Reno into a little cell, he knew Tseng would get him out soon and obediently waited instead of mindfucking the guards.

Reno cooperated to provide information, and the rates of solved cases skyrocketed so much that the Shinra heads relented. Reno was transferred from his cold, surveillance cell to Tseng's room for Tseng to watch over. He was happy. He was not 'allowed' to sleep on the bed, but he slept on the fluffy thing anyway, and Tseng didn't do anything to him, just sighed and laid on the other side.

And that was the ultimate trust, to sleep unguarded next to him. The thought of slitting Tseng's throat and fleeing flitted through Reno's mind, and that was all. Reno smiled at the back of the man who saved him and stuck to the warm back like a little child that wanted attention. Tseng sighed again, but let him anyway. And little did Tseng know, that little allowance of Reno's childishness made Reno's chest swell with happiness that he was accepted, and Reno cleaved to him, trusted him so much that he would in the future, block bullets for him.

Reno found in Shinra a roof over his head, a soft bed, a daily shower, free food, a person he trusted and found there was nothing else he could ask for. Sure, Turk training was tough, but Reno was talented, and he wanted to please Tseng, so he worked doubly hard to see the proud smile on the Wutai man's face that he made the right choice to groom Reno.

When he graduated and became a Turk and got his own room, Reno was actually sad. Tseng cooked good Wutai dishes. Tseng cleaned everything. Tseng was warm. He had gotten so accustomed to living with Tseng that he was a little lonely in his own cold apartment. There was a knock on his door, and a smooth voice called out.

"Reno, I forgot you're not living with me and cooked for two."

Reno beamed and ran over to open the door instantly. He grinned. "Miss me already, boss-man?" Tseng smiled knowingly knowing it was mutual, and Reno went into Tseng's room which was just beside his, and sat down at the now familiar table, surrounded by some of Reno's favorite traditional dishes.

"Hurry up Tseng!" Reno pouted impatiently. "I'm hungry!"

Tseng sighed like he always did around Reno, and sat down, watching Reno devour his food with gusto. He gave a little indulging smile, and started eating as well.

That day, Reno officially became a Turk, and he still spent his night sleeping on Tseng's bed glued to Tseng's back as a sort of final farewell.

***End of Chapter IV***

XP: I hope you guys liked it! Please review to tell me if you did or didn't! :)