A sour mood had settled over the tavern and the community. Rumours were spreading– unsettling ones. People wanted to know why Reno had been named a Turk and who the man was that nearly killed him and Cloud. Sophie was sweet and kind hearted and would never intentionally hurt Tifa or her friends, but once she left the tavern after that night, everyone she saw demanded information and the poor girl told them what she knew just to get them to back off.
And pieces of information were fitting together.
The bravest patrons to stay and hear the mad screams of Barrett when he'd spotted Reno, had heard something about the Seventh Plate. And everyone had heard him call Reno a Turk. And, so, very quickly, the idea formed that living among them this whole time, had been the Turk to drop the Plate– and everyone down here had known someone to die, had suffered, had been affected by the devastation.
The surgeon never returned. Tifa didn't dare open the tavern again. Sophie never came to collect her pay. Reno was still too out of it to know what was going on but Barrett sat waiting every night for the mob to come. He'd created a nightmare for his friends and he'd made a promise to Tifa not to hurt Reno again, but if he didn't break that promise, he might be condemning Tifa and Cloud to the mercy of the crowds as well.
"It's time to move." Tseng threw open Rude's door and the Turk didn't hesitate. He grabbed his jacket and ran after Tseng, knowing by the urgency of his voice that this could only be about one thing.
"There is a Tavern in sector six, apparently run by Strife and Lockheart."
They were running now, toward the roof. Elena was already in the chopper waiting to take off. Rude jumped in after Tseng and the Director continued.
"Someone attacked a bartender there, called him a Turk. Some people put it together, figured out he's the one who dropped the plate."
"Oh no..."
The Director gripped his arm and met his eyes fiercely, "We'll make it, Rude, we're going to save him."
Dawn was coming. Reno was awake and dressed. Barrett had told him to be ready. Tifa was still asleep. He slipped his shoes on and went quietly downstairs.
"That girl Sophie was kind enough to send along a warning." Barrett said meeting him by the main doors. "I promised Tifa I wouldn't hurt you, but those people out there will rip her to shreds if she doesn't hand you over."
"So you want me to turn myself in before it comes to that."
"No."
Reno was taken aback. "What?"
"No, I told you, I made a promise to her and I'm going to keep it. I want you to run your skinny little Turk ass back to Shinra but let plenty of people see you on the way. That way, Tifa is happy because you ain't dead but everyone will know she isn't hiding you here anymore. Here." He handed Reno his cell. "Call your buddies, get them to give you an exit, just make sure people see you."
Reno took the phone without hesitation. He would do whatever it took to protect Tifa and Cloud.
"Okay. Thank you."
"Oh don't thank me, I'll pass on the sentiment to the two upstairs."
Reno nodded, but before he could dial, there was a massive bang on the main door.
"What the Hell..." The next bang and the chain lock busted. At least eight men stood in the entry, regulars to whom Reno had severed beer several nights, big and tough. There were more people outside.
"Hand him over."
Barrett raised his metal hand and it began to transform into the gun.
"What's going on?" Tifa came down the stairs in her sock feet but her eyes widened at once. "What do you people think you're doing! Get back!"
"We don't know why you of all people would be defending this murderer Tifa," one man said, "but we're taking him, and you can't stop us. Please, don't make us hurt you."
"Well you're mistaken if you think I'm just going to hand him over to you."
"You are." Reno said and she wished she was surprised. But just like he had accepted the beatings from Cloud and Barrett, he saw this as just the next punishment for his crimes.
"No." She protested, "Reno you said if you went back to the Turks you wanted to do good things. If you succeeded, imagine what kinds of effects that could have! Giving up and dying isn't atoning for anything. Living and living decently is much harder, but it's the only way to pay back your debt. So don't do this, Reno. Please."
He looked back at her, his eyes sad. It wasn't that he ignored what she said, he sincerely took it to heart. But facing these men, and seeing the growing mob behind him, he knew that living was no longer a choice.
"Thank you Tifa, for everything." He put a hand on Barrett's mechanical arm and guided it down. "Don't let her follow," he whispered and stepped forward.
"NO!" Tifa bolted from the stairs toward them but Barrett caught her. "Let go! Don't do this! Stop it! Please everyone just stop!"
But the thick arms around her refused to budge and the people pulling Reno away were not stopping. Tifa continued to scream even when Reno was out of sight, and only stopped when a weak voice sounded behind her.
"They've taken him, haven't they?" Cloud leaned against the railing of the stairs, pale, shaking, but eyes flaring in dangerous anger.
"Cloud, no you can't be up." Tifa managed when she caught her breath again. But his sword was already in his hands and he was moving with painful determination toward the door.
"Cloud, you aren't strong enough." Barrett warned.
"I have to stop them."
"Don't die for him." Barrett's voice was desperate, because he already knew it would go unheard. His hands slackened around Tifa. He knew it was all over now. Cloud would go, and he couldn't let the swordsman go alone, and there would be no way Tifa wouldn't follow.
"Not just for him." Cloud responded quietly. "For them. They'll realize that this is not justice, that this brings nothing more than pain, makes them nothing more than murders, but they won't realize it until it's over. I have to stop them from making that mistake."
Without another word he drug his sword and himself through the door and made for his bike. Tifa stepped out of Barrett's arms, and with a sigh, he followed after.
Reno walked obediently between the two men who held either arm. His eyes were emotionless, he felt almost nothing as they walked along the dew-wet streets. He knew he was walking to his execution.
It had either previously, or just silently, been agreed upon that Reno should die at the scene of his crime. They marched right up to the edge of the destruction of the Seventh Plate and waited for everyone that could to gather.
Reno obediently fell to his knees when he was pushed down. His wrists and ankles were secured at his back and he was left to kneel alone in the middle of the crowd. Someone was speaking above him, making a speech about his crimes, about his death. He saw children in the crowd, their faces full of fear and anticipation more than anything else. Those a bit older showed the blood lust and hate. Those older still, and wiser, watched sadly, already having learned the lessons of vengeance.
"Stop!"
The speaker stopped at the harsh voice in surprise more than obedience. There was a roar of a motor, then a figure was sailing from the crowd. Reno groaned when sneakered feet landed in front of him, then heavy boots and then a very unsteady pair of legs mostly supported by a sword.
"Don't do this." Tifa cried from her protective stance in front of Reno, but people were already shouting over her.
"It's a mistake!" Cloud screamed. "Revenge does nothing but bring more pain. You will all have his blood on your hands! Can you really live with that?"
Someone shouted 'Yes' and there was a roar of agreement from the crowd. Cloud winced in both physical pain, grabbing his ribs, but also emotional, scared he couldn't save these people from this mistake. "Then if nothing else, what do you think will happen when the Turks find out what you've done?" he shouted through half clenched teeth, attempting to appeal to their self preservation if nothing else. But these were strong people, not easily intimidated.
"Let them come!" Someone yelled and the crowd cheered again. Their hesitation seemed to fade and they swarmed the three. Reno screamed for them all to stop but it was useless. Cloud was seized quickly, he didn't swing his sword, wouldn't, and his wounds were too severe. When he was grabbed he collapsed and immediately began coughing blood. Tifa was pushed to her knees and her arms held behind her back. Barrett was lost under at least ten men.
"We don't want to hurt out own, only the murder. Don't struggle any further." The man who'd been speaking earlier instructed before turning back to Reno. "Does the accused have anything to say before his sentence is carried out?"
Tifa was being restrained opposite from him. Had their arms been free, they could have reached out and touched each other, but like this, they could only reach each other through their eyes. Hers were brimming with emotions, with tears. His own were dry, calm. Slowly he broke her gaze and turned to face the speaker above him.
"No."
"Reno, no!" Tifa sobbed out but he didn't turn back to her.
"Then it is decided." The speaker concluded. Near silence fell over the crowd. A long katana was produced. Someone pushed Reno's head forward to expose the back of his neck and he just remained frozen that way, waiting.
"For all who lost their lives in Sector Seven, you are avenged!"
Tifa watched horrified as the blade was raised. She was screaming herself hoarse and fixed only on the scene before her. She didn't hear the startled grunts behind her, or the electric buzz of an EMR, she only realized something was happening when someone kneed past her and she pitched forward. The katana was falling but she face planted and could no longer see. But she heard the very clear ring of steel striking stone and gasped in horror.
Reno heard the blade cutting through the air and waited, staring at the stony ground where his head would land, where his life would end. But a shadow suddenly washed over that dry, grey ground, and then he was on his back with a weight on his body, staring up at the sky where it gapped through the remains of the Seventh Plate.
The ring of steel on stone rang out.
The crowd gasped collectively.
The man who'd been trying to execute him roared in outrage.
And overtop of it all, there was the familiar whir of helicopter blades cutting through the still air; orders beings shouted; and all that efficiency Reno knew so well. Finally, he looked to the form covering him. A bald head stirred and rolled off of him and then he was being hauled to his feet.
"Rude..." Reno breathed.
"Yo, Reno. It's been a while."
Reno stared at his partner. A second ago he'd been ready to die. He'd known precisely what was going to happen. His body would twitch in every way his first kill had. Every muscle would go limp, he would simply be gone. He had felt bad for Tifa, that she would have to watch. He had felt bad that Cloud had been hurt again. He had even felt bad that Barrett had gotten involved. But he had failed to think of Rude, of Tseng or even Elena.
He had almost left this life never having said good bye, or thank you or told them they were his family. He couldn't even think what his last words to Rude would have been. Guilt, sorrow, shock– all burst out of him at once and he collapsed against Rude's chest, anguished sobs escaping him. Rude had to catch him since his wrist and ankles were still bound and he had no way to keep himself balanced.
They were still in the middle of the crowd, but Tseng, Elena and a whole host of other Turks surrounded them in a protective circle, kept them safe. Someone pulled Tifa and Cloud and Barrett into their protection as well, and when Tseng sent a few meaningful shots into the air the crowd began to disperse.
It was over. No one was hurt, with the exception of a still very injured Cloud. The other Turks took over and Tseng and Elena joined their friends. Tseng cut the bonds around Reno's wrists and the red head immediately used his hands to wrap around Rude and bury his head tighter into his chest. Elena hugged him from behind and Tseng put a hand on his shaking shoulder.
Tifa sat with Cloud's head in her lap watching. Barrett stood over her keeping a suspicious eye on the Turks and holding Cloud's sword. But it was over now, the Turks had found their own, and nothing would stop them from taking him home.
Note: This is not the end! Lots more to come so keep watching for updates!
Thanks for all the amazing feedback! And I edited this one twice so hopefully I am teaching you propper grammar Katakana!
Until next time,
Riza.
