A/N: Hi :) This is a pretty short chapter. I wanted to try something new, I think for the next few chapters, I'm going to alternate between the main plot and a chapter concentrating on the past. I'm hoping it'll help explain how Reno and Kelly ended up the way they did.
He glanced up as the door of the room swung open, a flustered-looking blonde girl just about managed to keep her footing as she slipped on the way in. She didn't notice him leaning against the wall behind her, she only had eyes for the young teenager lying in the bed in front of them. It was about time someone showed up, it had been at least an hour since he'd managed to contact someone on the kid's phone.
Reno assumed they were siblings, or cousins or something. There only seemed to be a few years of difference between their ages. Then again, they could be a couple. If that was case, they had one hell of a love-hate relationship ... he had found her name under 'Kelly_Bitch' in the youngster's phone. He wasn't one to preach about the perfect relationship and he had his own share of failed romances, but even he hadn't resorted to such labels yet.
"Y'know, it's not really a good idea for a kid his age to go walk-abouts in the slums … specially not when the gangs are fighting over shit."
Kelly spun on her heels, eyes wide with fright as they locked onto the owner of the voice; a lanky teenager stood behind her, with unkempt red hair and crisp blue eyes, he looked to be around her age, give or take a year. Her initial fright was quickly replaced with anger as she fought to regain her composure; what right did he have to lecture her? What was he even doing in her brother's room? She didn't know him, she doubted Anthony knew him.
"Who the hell are you? And save the lecture - what would you know?"
He knew a lot more than she obviously did. He had known to steer clear of the areas the gangs frequented. He could look after himself if he ran into trouble, unlike the kid who was now lying in the hospital bed. As for the girl, she wouldn't last five minutes on her own. He considered himself to be a good judge of character and right now he had her pinned as a spoilt little girl with notions of herself.
Reno shrugged as he pushed himself away from the wall, flashing the girl a smirk as walked towards the window. He leaned his back against its sill as he kept his eyes on the girl.
"I'm the guy who found your brother, cousin, friend - whatever and brought him here. And I know enough to make sure I don't end up in the same situation he did. How about we try thank-you Reno, huh?"
His direct words and unwavering glare quickly put her back in her box … it was her fault Anthony was now in hospital. Their father had warned her not to let him outside that night, but he had annoyed her; she had locked him out of the house. It was her fault that her younger brother had been out roaming the slums, instead of being at home. It was her fault he had gotten hurt.
Kelly looked away as her mind raced to find a retort or an excuse. She wasn't sorry that he had been hurt, that had been his own fault. But she did regret the fact that her parents were going to blame her because of it. They were still in the corridor outside, speaking to a doctor. Her Dad was furious with her; his uncharacteristic silence stood testament to the extent of his anger. Her mother was upset, but she wouldn't blame her; hopefully she could calm her father down a bit. Kelly groaned as she pushed the thoughts to the back of her head, choosing to change the subject instead.
"He's my brother … what happened to him?"
He'd gotten the crap kicked out of him for a start. Reno had been wasting time, hanging around sector seven, when he'd stumbled upon a local gang. He had been about to walk away and mind his own business when he'd noticed several of the gang's members using a younger teenager as a punching-bag, before a glint of silver had caught his attention.
Reno had always prided himself on his agility, but even he hadn't been fast enough to prevent the knife from sinking into the kid's side.
"Your brother got caught up in a gang feud - kicked the crap out of him and stabbed him … I got him here and found your name in his phone."
"You can go now."
An indignant snort was his only answer, followed by the youngster pointedly hoisting himself up onto the window sill behind him; he had no intention of going anywhere, particularly not now that he had been dismissed. He pitied the kid lying in the bed, no wonder he'd decided to try his luck at wandering around the slums. If she were his sister, Reno would prefer getting caught up in fights over being stuck in the same house as her.
He smiled and shook his head as Kelly glared at him before gesturing towards the door.
"I don't take orders from anyone, specially not from spoilt little girls - I think you're wanted."
Kelly took a breath to let fly at the redhead, but cut herself short he nodded towards the door behind her. Whatever anger she had built up quickly dissipated as faltered under her father's stern gaze. He watched Reno for a moment, before silently gesturing for her to follow him; no words and no shouting - not in front of people. He'd wait until she was outside before he yelled at her.
She sighed, casting a final glare towards the still smirking redhead before she followed her father; this was all Anthony's fault. Why couldn't he have just shut up and gone to bed or something? He wouldn't have found himself locked out if he hadn't annoyed her in the first place, but something told her that her father wouldn't be so understanding.
Reno cringed as he registered the raised voices outside the room, it sounded like the man who had gestured for Kelly to follow him had last his temper, he could hear Kelly's voice somewhere in the mix, along with another woman's. Part of him wanted to go and defend Kelly, despite the fact that he'd only met her. He knew what it was like to get the brunt of a parent's anger, he knew what it was like to constantly get the blame, that was the main reason he spent his time roaming around the slums.
But his dignity wouldn't let him go help her; if she wanted to act like a headstrong bitch, then that had consequences. Reno scratched the back of his head as he tried to block out the shouting, his attention turning to the cracked ceiling tiles above his head as he mumbled to himself.
"If you're gonna be a bitch, you're gonna get treated like one…"
A/N: The next chapter will be the main plot. Let me know what you guys thought about this chapter. If you liked it, I'll continue alternating until I have the background of their relationship covered :)
