Disclaimer: I don't own any of the FFVII characters, places, etc.

Chapter 9: Square Deal

"Easy," Reno grunted as he opened the door to the Turk hangout. Rude's arm was heavy over his shoulders after limping through most of sector seven injured and drugged out. The fatigue and wounds of their exploits, not to mention the emotional trauma of the recent days was near enough to kill them.

The dark bar was not as full of patrons as it had been on their last visit. Reno helped Rude ease onto one of the leather lounge chairs before wiping sweat off of the dark boy's forehead. He looked pale and strained.

"Wait here. I'll go and find Lyn," Reno instructed.

"Don't do anything stupid," Rude caught Reno's hand, a serious look in his eyes masking the fear underneath them. The world had become a very different place between visits. Reno smiled somberly.

"I ain't got no energy to be doing stupid things with yo," he promised. Rude let him go as his eyes rolled back, breathing laboriously. Reno straightened out the sleeves of the dark blue hoodie he'd nabbed from a clothes line and tightened the belt on the over-large, ratty jeans. They were still both barefoot, the hems of Rude's cargo jeans bloodied from gravel and debris as he'd trod through. The smiling thumbs up cartoon character plastered across the older boy's chest seemed morosely out of taste too.

Reno turned with the satchel still over his aching shoulders. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he marched up to the bar where a balding ash blonde was cutting fruits and vegetables, unconcerned by his underage guests.

"Is Lyn here?" Reno asked. The bartender glanced up, hazel eyes watery. They wandered over his inquisitor and he shook his head.

"No," he answered. His gaze flicked at Rude, mostly dead on a chair. "She's usually in pretty soon though. Here, on the house for you and your friend," he reached beneath the bar and produced a couple of cool unmarked bottles. Popping the caps off with his burly hands he handed them over. Reno gave him a perplexed look. "Good for pain and injuries. Non-alcoholic, mix of Shin-Ra medication's finest cure spell and a little old world magic from Gongaga. Works like a charm," he explained. "Turks swear by 'em."

"Thanks," Reno nodded, taking the two bottles and stiffly making his way back to Rude. "Here bud, drink this," he offered the glass.

"Don't taste good, but drink it up!" the bartender called as Rude winced at a smell of it. Reno took a whiff of his and nearly gagged. The boys shared a look.

"Anything to make the pain stop," Rude shook his head.

"Cheers chump," Reno clicked glasses. They both pinched their noses and took hearty draughts. In unison their face wrinkled and both gagged, but the cool brew settling in their suddenly growling stomachs was soothing. "I'm so hungry," Reno half wilted, the bottle held loosely in one hand as he slouched. "I'm calling Cassie...tell her to cook dinner."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Rude asked, his eyes fixing on Reno with that same look of fear. Reno was consumed for a moment by the memory of Newt's fire edged face, his blue ember eyes calming despite his own damnation.

"You're right. After we're done…I'll call her on the way home," Reno agreed. He sat down in the space Rude made beside him. As soon as he was down he felt exhaustion crash over him. He was conscious long enough to take another drink before he set his head on Rude's shoulder and fell asleep.

When next he came to he was aware of cigarettes and murmuring talk around them. He was careful to leave his eyes shut as he tried to figure out where he was. The leather of the chair was under one hand and he recognized the sinewy iron of Rude's shoulder. Something was draped over top of them. More voices had gathered in the bar and soft jazz wound through the air.

"Yeah, yeah, six fours," someone was saying not far away.

"Seven fives," another man intoned. There was the chink of a glass.

"What are all of you afraid of? Ten sixes." That was Lyn's voice. Reno's eyes opened and everything was a bit blurry. He blinked a few times to let them focus.

"Hey now, those are some eyes," another man said, this one significantly younger.

"He's my little SOLDIER boy," Lyn replied, and her wolf features leaned into his vision. She sat in a white button down with her sleeves rolled up, the tie mostly undone with damp hair. Those golden eyes smiled at him with pride. "Finally come to, huh boy? You've a good friend who'll let you sleep on his shoulder as long as you did, Red," she added. Rude's muscles tightened and Reno listened as the dark boy clenched his jaw. "Let me get you your drinks," she said, standing up. She looked a bit sore herself as she sauntered off to the bar stretching.

"Wow, so these were the ones Lyn had go in for Hojo's treatment," said the young voice. An auburn haired man with a patch over one eye leaned in. "They've both got the Mako glow, look at them."

"Just think of the animals they'll be when they recover. I'm kinda glad alls I got was a couple of spent kittens," Lyn chortled, placing a cold bottle on the side of Reno's neck. He jumped up, rubbing his neck while throwing her a filthy look.

"Don't you know not to wake a man like that, woman?" he groused to the amusement of those around him.

"Drink up, Red," she brushed it off as he accepted the drink. Rude shifted and they both pinched their nose and downed the concoction in unison. The gathering laughed.

"They've already got the process down," the auburn haired man chuckled. A graying red head smirked.

"Natural Turks to have made it out of there alive."

"I have fine eyes for talent," Lyn preened.

"We're not Turks," Reno said sternly. Lyn's smile spread.

"Yet," she corrected him.

"Never," Reno reiterated. "This was a one-time deal, toots." There was more laughter around the table and Lyn just shrugged as she lit up a Junon Jezebel cigarette. A playful smile lingered on her face as she studied him under the veil of her short, gray white eyelashes.

"Finish your drinks, kiddies," she instructed and snatched one of the upside down cups on the table exposing a handful of dice. The others began lifting their cups too, including two others Reno hadn't noticed before. Swears went around the table as Lyn cackled, swiping crumpled bills and gleaming coin towards herself.

"I told you not to be a chicken in this game," she scoffed. "Sayyid! Come lose a few rounds for me!" Lyn waved at a dark skinned, longish haired man. He pushed off the bar and approached with his hands in his pants pockets, ink black eyes fixed on Lyn dubiously.

"Just because I can't load my dice like you can," he scoffed.

"That just means you'll never climb up the pay grades," Lyn replied as she stood. "Come on tikes, finish your drinks. We're headed up and outside for a little chat." Reno and Rude once more pinched their noses and chugged.

"Aw, shit," Reno moaned after his first attempt at rising. All the muscles in his body protested.

"Put your mind over your body, and push it apart," Lyn pinched his ear. Reno jerked his head away as she chuckled. Through sheer force of will Reno got to his feet. Rude was up and unsteady, face set stoically. Together they tottered a bit unstably after her, climbing the stairs, and pushing out onto the upstairs balcony.

The muggy, pungent air of sector six's Wall Street hit them. It wrapped about them, timelessly dark, the buzz of neon lights and bar music carrying over the crowds below. It was comforting to be back in a familiar element at least. It didn't stop Reno from looking up at the distant plates, remembering the frigid, untouchable smile of the moon. He closed his eyes, recalling the blue silver shadows, only to have Newt's earnest gaze resurface.

"I heard about the soldier that helped you out," Lyn said, guessing his thoughts. There was an unusual note of sobriety in her tone.

"You don't know anything about him," Reno gave her a surreal smile.

"If you don't want more do-good Samaritans like him to die, you'd better hone that instinct and skill in you Red," Lyn replied. Reno bit back on a snarl and turned his back to her.

"With all due respect," Rude spoke now. "You should do your own dirty work."

"Bold words from Tonto here," Lyn laughed.

"His name's Rude," Reno looked over his shoulder at her. "You should probably remember it, you dog faced bitch." He turned now with his discordant smile. Lyn returned the grin.

"Cherry Cheese Cake came by a few days ago raising Cain," she leaned back. "You know she's pretty cute in that little green visor. It's a shame she has such poor taste in men. But then again she's head over heels for you, Red."

"What's she have to do with any of this?" Reno demanded.

"I'm just saying you think this is a one night stand, Red, but you've tangled yourself up in more ways than one. You realize I'm the only thing between you and Corneo, and that I could always toss you back over to Hojo." She examined here nails while ashing her cigarette absently. Reno laughed, a sudden reflex he didn't have to force. He could feel the blood all over him and the sin of Newt's death wrapping him in chains.

"Do you have my goggles?" Reno demanded when he could talk around the chuckles. Lyn reached below the collar of her shirt and pulled them off, tossing them back. Reno strapped them on and pushed them into his hair. "A guy told me I'd need my eyes, and this jackal woman said that there were no rules in this brave new world," he informed her. "So all I have to do is make up my own rules and outsmart yours. I could turn you in for massacring all those lab techs."

"Little old me? I was out for drinks," Lyn laughed with a shark's gleam in her eyes.

"Hojo probably wouldn't mind a rib shot to you Turks after what happened at his place. I bet he'd be happy to listen and put your pictures side by side," he said, making her laugh crescendo.

"You think something like that would scare me?" she demanded.

"Maybe not now, but how much do you wanna gamble?" Reno prompted. Lyn's smile tamed a moment as she read him and then strengthened when she made her decision.

"What do you say to this, Tonto?" Lyn demanded. Rude remained silent. Lyn's eyes flicked to him.

"Me?" he lifted his eyebrows mockingly. Lyn laughed.

"Rude, your thoughts?" she corrected herself, conceding defeat.

"We're not a set of your loaded dice," Rude replied. "You might cast us just to find an unwanted set of snake eyes." Lyn looked between the pair of them, both sets of honey and green Mako glowing eyes fixed on her with bold determination. She leaned back after a moment to blow a smoke ring.

"So I find a pair who might be worth a damn," she said in all seriousness. "Hand over your findings and I want a blood sample, and we'll consider our business conducted and square for now."

"For now?" Reno prompted.

"Can't blame a girl for asking the occasional favor. And who's to say you might not need one yourself someday?" Her smile returned full force. Reno removed the satchel from his back and put it on the table. She opened it and pulled out a water smeared clipboard, still legible, along with several of the remaining substances that had been pumped into them. The other bags had labels on them declaring their contents. Her eyes ran over them, nodded once, and she snapped her fingers at a passing waitress with cuff links and a short blue skirt.

"Bring me one of those med kits, munchies, and juice," she instructed. The waitress bobbed a curtsey and walked with long strides to do as she was told. Lyn glanced down at the paperwork then back up to her two charges. "Here's the cash compensation, by the way." She tossed an envelope at them. Reno came to sit beside Rude and opened it. Together they counted out their measly pay.

"What are you gonna do with yours?" Reno asked since Lyn had fallen silent. Rude shrugged.

"Buy the family a nice meal," he guessed. "You?"

"Cassie's Christmas present. A camera so she'll stop looking so damn strange framing everything with her fingers," he demonstrated.

"Could be worse," Rude cautioned. "Paparazzi then."

"I'm not camera shy," Reno shrugged. "Better be careful though or the Paparazzi will shoot you too."

The waitress reappeared with a med kit along with chicken tenders, French fries, a smattering of vegetables, and a couple slices of cake. She handed each boy a bottle of apple juice with a smile and deposited her goodies before departing.

"Eat up," Lyn prompted as she opened the med kit. Reno and Rude glanced at each other. Lyn reached forward and popped a fry in her mouth, proving it wasn't poisoned. She came and sat beside them as Reno wasted no time digging in. Taking one of his arms she swiped some cold liquid across the filthy, puncture ridden skin.

"Boy, they really went all out on you," she commented idly, tracing a vein a bit further down. Reno glanced at it and wished he hadn't as she plunged the slender metal into his skin. He tore through a chicken tender, squirming as she held his arm steady.

"All done," she told him, moving around to Rude with a new syringe. Reno rubbed his arm only a few seconds before going back to their dinner. He was so hungry. Rude offered his arm without complaint and didn't wince as his blood was taken. Lyn looked pleased with her haul and sat across from them as they devoured every scrap on the plate. Reno was sighing delightedly as he obtained the last chicken tender only to have Rude lean over and snatch it right from his fingers.

"He-what-the-hey!" Reno stammered, swiping back for it. Rude popped it into his mouth.

"I'm bigger," he answered. Reno snorted but made no further complaint.

"Well, it was nice conducting business with you gentlemen," Lyn smiled, offering her hand. Reno eyed it warily before cautiously accepting. Her firm shake and almost honest smile were another contrast. Rude shook with her as well and then they hobbled up together, both moaning. "You know now at least how to get in touch with me," Lyn smiled. She followed them downstairs.

As he passed the bar the old bartender nodded to him. They shuffled towards the front door feeling like they'd cheated death somehow. Reno looked over his shoulder and saw Lyn stooping to pick up her jacket, which she must have draped across them as they slept. They closed the door behind them and looked at each other.

"Want to come with me to Cassie's?" Reno asked.

"Maybe tomorrow. My mom must be really worried," Rude shook his head. "I'll walk you to Cassie's though. You're a trouble magnet." Reno laughed and they started towards the train tracks.

They shuffled through the colorful masses, Reno too tired to even pick some outrageously exposed pockets. Colors blurred in and out of his troublesome vision, though Reno sensed it was getting better. Wearily they waited underneath a streetlight for the train, and shuffled on mindlessly to slump into a corner seat. Reno didn't realize he'd fallen asleep on the train or that he'd been carried back until he heard Cassie's voice.

"Darryl! Landon!" Cassie gasped as light shone down on Reno. He struggled to open his eyes but his body wouldn't listen.

"Shh," Rude hushed her, moving inside as she must have been urging. He heard the door close and felt Cassie rush past.

"Toss him in there on the bed," Cassie instructed. Reno let himself be carried away and then felt Rude strain as he put him down.

"Sorry yo…" Reno sighed, managing to crack an eye. Rude gave him a rare grin, sleepy and full of too many emotions. "You're tired, stay here bro," he urged.

"I gotta at least call," Rude sighed.

"You can use my phone Darryl," Cassie offered, motioning to the kitchen.

"Thanks," Rude nodded, groaning as he stood. Cassie smiled after him and sat down on the bed beside Reno.

"Oh kid," she said, her baby blues gleaming with tears in the light from the other room. Her room was dark, smelling like lilac shampoo and cigarettes. Cassie leaned over him, sausage curls brushing his cheeks as she kissed his temple. "I was so scared, Landon," she said, her voice strained. He felt a warm drop of her tears on his cheek. Reaching up he put a hand on her face.

"It's okay Cassie," he assured him, thinking about those blue, blue eyes of Newt's. "Everything's alright," he lied, smiling for her when she leaned back.

"Please don't do that again Lan," she begged, kissing his forehead and getting up. She went into the other room where Rude's voice was softly burring on the phone. He heard the water flip on and then saw Rude and Cassie standing by the door. "Darryl you both look like you've been through Hell," Cassie said softly.

"Just the usual scuffles," Rude replied with a shrug, accepting a glass of water.

"You look half dead Darryl!" Cassie whisper-shouted.

"We're alright Cassie. Please don't worry about us," Rude consoled. "Besides, he's got me." Cassie sighed but seemed to relent.

"You two are going to give me gray hairs. This didn't have anything to do with the Turks?" she jabbed a finger at him.

"No ma'am," Rude shook his head, lying quite convincingly. Cassie stood disbelieving but decided to push it no further. The two of them entered her room and Reno felt Cassie climb into bed and scoot him over.

"Cassie," he muttered, snuggling up to her side. "I missed you," he sighed, feeling her curl her arm around him. Rude slid into bed and settled on her other side. Cassie put her arm around him too.

"You two dogs," she sighed as Reno took a breath of her perfume. "You're going to make me old before my time." Reno just smiled.