Escape
Reno reloaded the gun as he ran, cursing himself for a fool. Regardless of what Elena thought, he was not as perfectly calm and collected as he had seemed. Mentally he second-guessed almost every move he made, although he had only now sunk to berating himself. Idiot! Why'd you let her go off alone if you were going to take away her only means of defense?
It had been for her own safety, but now she was in more danger than before. It had been stupid of him to leave his home with only the nightstick and one gun in the first place. His skills with the electric rod bypassed any living person's, but it was a close-range weapon, more suitable for torturing a victim than actually killing them. Yes, he'd modified it for more destructive means, but the wiring was imperfect and it needed to be charged before use…
He had to find Elena before those men did, that was all. There were plenty of them left, he had no doubt of that. Yes, he'd killed many, but others still lived, including their one-armed leader.
Reno had sharper eyes than Elena; he'd recognized that the leader wore not a silver glove over his left arm, but instead had a mechanical hand. That man had evaded his shots and found cover. As soon as there was a break in the fighting, Reno had turned and run after Elena, killing any who got in his way.
And now he had lost her.
Reno swore aloud, rolling the shoulder of his broken arm as well as he could. Now that the adrenaline of the chase had worn off, the injury began to ache with strain and suppressed tension. He could not keep this up all night. He had to find Elena and get out of here. There were too many to fight, even for a Turk, never mind a wounded one and a rookie
Elena, where the hell are you!
"Reno!"
The urgent hiss took him by surprise. Reno had whipped around, gun ready, before he realized it was Elena. She had poked her head out of a swinging door off to the side- the entrance to the ladies' restroom, as a matter of fact. Only when he'd lowered his gun did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"Why do you always do that?" she demanded angrily. "I have enough to worry about without being shot by you!"
"And my reflexes are the only reason you're still alive," he snarled, thrusting the gun at her. She took it, stepping out of the bathroom warily.
"Are we safe?" she asked in a whisper. He shook his head.
"Not yet. And we won't be until we get out of here." He started down the hall, sure of foot despite the thick darkness. Elena hesitated, then hurried after him, walking quickly so he wouldn't leave her behind. At his side she paused again, then tentatively wrapped her hand around his right arm, above the broken bone.
She's still afraid of me, but more afraid of losing her way in the dark, thought Reno with a certain amount of satisfaction. That was good. The sooner she overcame her lesser fears, the sooner she could brave her greater ones. Not that he really cared, but if he was going to get Elena out of there, he'd teach her something along the way.
Since it wasn't his left arm and she was only hurting him a bit, Reno let her hang onto him as they walked –quickly, but without actually running –down the corridor. He knew there would be a back exit at the end of this aisle.
And it was there the man with the mechanical arm waited for them.
His mask obscured his face, but there was a smile in his voice as he spoke to them.
"I have been anxious to meet you, Reno of the Turks."
His voice was not low, but surprisingly high, with a nasal tone that would have been funny if he hadn't been so obviously dangerous. Reno pried Elena off him, seemingly unconcerned.
"That so? You didn't seem so welcoming when you and your friends were trying to shoot me." Reno put emphasis on the word trying, a slight smile of contempt on his lips. Elena wondered why he wasn't fighting the man, simply talking.
The man gave a crooked shrug. "Simply a test, Turk, of your skills in battle. You would not be worth introducing myself to if you let those incompetent fools kill you."
"Speaking of introducing yourself, who are you?" Elena blurted. Both men looked at her in mild surprise.
"Forgive me." The man gave a mocking bow. "I am Lirves."
"Why don't you come over here and introduce yourself properly?" Reno drawled, flipping up the nightstick. To Elena he muttered, "Get out of here. I'll deal with him."
"You'll need help," she began, but he cut her short.
"No, Elena. This is a direct order. Leave, now."
She saw the look in his green eyes and didn't argue. Creeping off to the side, she edged away and ran for the exit.
Lirves didn't stop her, perhaps because he was already dealing with Reno. Elena noticed with surprise that he fought not with a gun, like his fellows, but with a thin, curved saber unlike any blade she had ever seen before. She didn't know if it actually was a sword or just a long dagger, but she was already running out the exit as fast as she could go, and she didn't care to stop to find out.
Outside, the pouring rain felt cool on her hot face, and she stood for a moment, panting. It was over. She'd survived, and any minute now Reno would come out, boasting about how he'd defeated Lirves…
Before she caught her breath, something slammed her back into the glass door. Elena cried out in pain, but a gloved hand silenced her cry. She stared into the face of yet another black-masked man, one who didn't seem to have a gun yet frightened her no less…
Still holding her against the glass, he peeled off his mask to reveal a young face no older than she, twisted into an expression of leering amusement. He had rakish blond hair and blue-green eyes that stared at her in a way that made all the blood drain from her face.
"He didn't mention you," the man said in a tone that reflected that same amusement. He reached out and touched her face gently. Elena, paralyzed, could only watch.
"No," he continued to muse, "he didn't say you'd be with the Turk. This is a pleasant surprise…I'll thank him later."
Somehow, it seemed she could hear Reno yelling at her. Why do you always act like such a rookie?
Tears stung at her eyes. I'm sorry! she wanted to yell back. It's not my fault I was never allowed to prove otherwise!
The guy seemed to like her fear, pressing himself closer. "Think you're scared now?" he whispered intimately. "Wait until later…much later, you'll see…"
Then prove it now.
He pressed her back against the glass, kissing her roughly against the side of her mouth. Elena struggled weakly, but she was trying hard to concentrate on what Reno was saying.
Prove what?
He fumbled with his belt buckle. Elena couldn't seem to summon up the courage even to scream for help. No help would come.
That you're not a rookie… It was annoyed, disgusted, and enough to spur her into action.
Then, between them both, the cold, hard metal of the gun. Pulling away just enough to jam the muzzle into his stomach, she looked hard into his eyes. She saw cruel amusement there, blinded to the danger by his own good fortune. A little blond woman was no threat.
When she pulled the trigger, there was almost no sound, muffled as it was inside of his stomach. But she felt the kickback, felt the screaming vibration tear upward into her arm. His mouth worked, but nothing emitted but a thin trickle of blood. Elena, too, could not seem to make a sound, even as he fell against her, jerking and twitching. It seemed to take a horribly long time for him to die, as though he was still determined to…but she wouldn't think of that now. She couldn't really think at all.
When he was finally still, she pushed him off her and stared down for a moment. She felt no emotion, not even the choking sensation of fear she'd experienced even a few seconds ago. Was he still breathing? No, it was just an illusion of the pouring rain. It had already soaked her hair, and she wasn't sure if she was shivering from the cold or the aftereffects of shock.
After a few moments, she realized she couldn't bear to stare down at him any longer. She turned around and went back inside.
Reno, she quickly saw, was engaged in a struggle of his own. The two men were locked body-to-body, each fighting with all the strength he possessed. At last Lirves gave out, but when Reno struck down the other man cut upward with his curved blade. Reno twisted off to the side; Elena could not see how badly he was hurt. Then the Turk managed to get Lirves under the nightstick. Elena could see the waves of electricity wracking the man's body, but, amazingly, Lirves got to his feet. Reno, who hadn't let up the pressure, at last broke away when it became impossible to maintain contact. Lirves struck again with the blade, Reno evaded it. Then he moved in again, turning sideways to plow into Lirves with his shoulder, sending the other man crashing through a store display window. A sudden siren went off, red lights flashed about. Reno hesitated a moment, looking like he wanted to finish off Lirves. But he shook his head and instead ran toward Elena.
"Let's go!" he yelled over the noise. "The alarm will draw every enemy within hearing!"
Once outside Reno checked at the sight of the body, giving Elena a sidelong look. She shook her head, and he said nothing. She was able to force thoughts of the man she had killed away as she ran, grateful for his silence.
At last they left the sound of the alarm behind. Reno slowed them to a walk, breathing heavily. He was bleeding from a sword wound in his upper torso. Red blood soaked the white work shirt under the jacket.
"It's nothing," he said curtly when she asked about it. "Nothing I can't handle." Suddenly he stopped and grasped her chin in his hand. He turned her face to inspect a swelling bruise along the side of her mouth. "And you," he said quietly. "How did this happen?"
The full impact of the blond man's intentions for her struck her to the core. He had been about to rape her, force her. It anguished Elena greatly, and on top of the rest of the night it was too much. She started sobbing wildly, whether for herself, the lives she'd ended, or her own lost innocence she would never know. What made it worse was the way Reno stood looking at her, as if the sight of a crying woman was something new to him. Try as she might, she simply could not stifle the tears, and all of her rage and shame made her cry harder. At last Reno took her arm and led her beneath the eve of a nearby building. It wasn't much, but it was a little drier, and Elena collapsed on the stone step with her face in her hands.
Reno sat beside her. He didn't hold her or touch her; that wasn't Reno's way. He simply waited, albeit a little uncomfortably, for her to finish. By the time she had, he was resisting the urge to light a cigarette…or a pack.
She sat, sniffling, and rubbed at her already blotchy face. "I'm sorry," she apologized in a subdued voice. Reno said only, "Sector 2 is still a ways from here. We went by the train station, so-"
The thought of the long walk home, and then a sleepless night alone, terrified her. "No," she said quickly. "I don't want to…" She stopped, sniffling again.
Reno sighed, looking as though he wanted to be impatient, but didn't have the heart to turn her away. He rubbed his eyes wearily, saying, "What do you want to do, then?"
"I don't know," was her broken reply. "I just don't want to be alone."
Reno thought for a moment, then stood up. "Okay, then," he announced. "We'll go to Rude's."
Elena looked up. "Rude's?" she repeated.
"Yeah, he lives nearby. He'll let us crash at his place tonight." He put out a hand to help her up, and, after a moment, she took it.
"Are you sure he won't mind?" she asked.
Reno grinned. "What, mind?" he said, feeling like he ought to try and cheer her up. "When a hot babe and his best friend show up at his door in the middle of the night? No way!"
It had the desired reaction; after a second she gave a small smile and hopped down the stone steps. "We can tell him all about what happened," she suggested.
"That's right," he agreed. "And maybe we can call up Tseng…throw a Turk slumber party…"
At those words, Elena colored a bit, realizing she was about to spend the night with two grown men, but shrugged it off. She felt more kindly toward Reno, now that he had saved her life more time than she could count. Still, she was glad Rude would be there, too.
~
Rude pulled open the door long after Elena was sure Reno's hollering would pull down the apartment building around their ears. She stood a little ways off to the side, feeling distinctly uncomfortable and a bit ashamed.
When Rude finally opened the door, Elena almost didn't recognize him. He was as tall and imposing as ever, his muscular frame almost filling the doorway. But he was shirtless, in fact he wore only a wrinkled pair of sweatpants. The sight startled her, for she had only seen Rude in uniform before. But what confused her even more was Rude's face- he wasn't wearing his sunglasses, and for the first time she saw he had an ugly, purplish scar crossing over one eye.
He said nothing, simply looked at them for a moment. Elena suddenly realized how they had to look in his eyes: exhausted, soaked from the rain, battered and bloodied. She knew her eyes were red-rimmed from crying, and her bruised mouth ached. What would Rude make of them?
He said not a word, but after that first startled glance stepped aside to let them in. Reno clapped his friend on the shoulder as he went by, but Elena lowered her eyes, knowing Rude probably thought her presence was the oddest thing of all. Reno's sudden arrival in the middle of the night might not have been a rare occurrence, but hers was.
Once Rude had closed the door and turned to face them, Reno gave a sardonic smile and disappeared into the adjoining kitchen. This left Elena alone with the other Turk. Rude's questioning eyes had never left her.
"We were…attacked," she said lamely, realizing she owed him some sort of explanation. "They had guns, and…" She buried her face in her hands, close to tears once again. "God, I was so scared!"
Rude stepped nearer to her and touched her shoulder comfortingly. She thought she heard him heave a quiet sigh.
The sound of Reno clearing his throat impatiently made her look up. Reno stood there, waving three beers in their direction. Rude stepped over to take one.
Reno grinned mockingly as he held one of the bottles out to her. When she hesitated he said, "Sorry, babe. The big guy-" he indicated Rude "-doesn't have white wine. Take it or leave it."
He had reverted from the calm, cool professional back to the mocking jerk she detested. She glared as she grabbed the beer from his hand. Reno winked, then leaned against the wall nearby. After a moment he flipped a switch, flooding Rude's apartment in light.
At least Rude lived a little neater than his friend, but at the moment Elena didn't care. She took a gulp of the beer and almost choked on the bitter taste. She caught sight of Reno fighting back laughter and threw her head back, chugging the rest of the bottle. When she had finished, she set the drink aside.
She smiled confidently. There, that would stop him from making fun of her. She wasn't use to drinking alcohol, but she had polished off a whole bottle in no time flat, and she felt fine…
She shivered involuntarily and then Rude's concerned hands were supporting her. She tried shrugging them off, but a wave of dizziness struck her, and she let him help.
"Alcohol lowers your body temperature," Rude said, shooting Reno a reproving glance. "I'll give you some dry clothes." Gripping her arm, he led her down the hall.
She had forgotten her uniform was soaking wet and clinging to her body. How…? She vaguely recalled running around in the dark. avoiding gunshots. When had that happened? It seemed a lifetime ago.
She leaned tiredly against the doorframe of the bedroom as Rude dug around in a dresser drawer. At last he came out with a large white t-shirt. Elena could see it would be huge on her, easily hanging down to her thighs.
She giggled suddenly. What did she care how big it was? It would be warm and dry. With that thought in mind, she began flinging off her wet clothes. Rude's restraining hand on her arm stopped her.
"Wait until I leave the room." He sounded faintly amused.
Another wave of dizziness hit her, and nausea came with it. Her knees buckled, and she would have fallen if Rude hadn't caught her.
"Elena, you're drunk off one beer," he said, studying her closely. "When was the last time you ate something?"
The thought of food made her nauseous. "Rude, stay with me tonight," she begged. "Don't leave me alone."
He eased himself gently from her grasp. "Reno and I will be right in the next room, Elena. You have nothing to be afraid of."
"I thought so, too," she murmured. "That was before he…" How many had she killed? Three, or was it four? She couldn't remember.
He pushed her firmly away from him. "Get changed and go to sleep. We'll talk in the morning." He left, shutting the door behind him.
As Elena proceeded to get changed, she heard the other two talking in the next room.
"Took you long enough," Reno said. "I thought you were screwing her or something."
Of course Elena's first response was indignation laced with contempt, but it faded. Reno was probably as afraid and upset as she'd been. Maybe more. It was only natural he might try to release it by bantering with his friend.
She didn't hear Rude say anything, but he must have done something, because Reno said, "Don't give me that look. Just because you haven't had a date in years doesn't fool me. I saw you look at her. Attractive girl, isn't she?"
Elena felt a moment's annoyance, but another wave of dizziness drowned it out. She crawled into Rude's unmade bed, wondering vaguely if he would mind her using it.
"No, she handled herself pretty well," Reno was saying. "I mean, it's obvious she'll never be a professional, but she surprised me." He paused, then said more softly, "We should tell her, Rude."
"No," Rude said in a sharper tone than she'd ever heard him use. "Tseng will handle it when the time comes. Until then, we follow orders."
"He wasn't there tonight, Rude. I was!" Reno sounded angry. Why? Elena wondered with a sort of detached interest. Why is he angry?
She heard Rude sigh heavily. "We'll ask Tseng about it tomorrow. There's nothing we can do now."
"Fine." Reno didn't sound happy, though.
Elena listened a while longer, but all they began to do was fight over who had to take the couch. She never discovered who did, because within another moment she was asleep.
~
She woke feeling sick. Elena started to sit up, but her stomach suddenly rebelled. She lay down again until the nausea subsided, then sat up, more slowly this time.
At first, she was confused. Where was she? She didn't recognize this place- oh. When it all came back to her, she distantly recalled Rude telling her she was drunk. Elena bit back a laugh. She'd never been drunk before in her life, but hanging around two distinguished alcoholics, that was sure to change!
Out in the living room, Reno was still stretched out on the floor, wrapped in a woolen blanket. He yawned and opened his eyes when she walked in.
"Hey, 'Lena," he greeted her, then eyed her up and down. "You've got nice legs, babe."
She threw him a disgusted glare and stalked into the kitchen. It was hard to keep her dignity while wearing only a shirt that didn't quite reach her knees, but she tried anyway.
Rude was cooking eggs on the stove. Elena walked over and watched him.
"Thank you," she said softly, "for being so kind."
He glanced at her. "It's nothing," he said matter-of-factly. "Turks look out for each other."
Reno stepped into the kitchen, massaging his head and complaining of a hangover. He, like Rude, was shirtless, wearing only the blue pants of his uniform. She saw a shallow cut along his side and remembered how he'd been injured protecting her. She decided to ignore his comment about her legs and opened her mouth to ask how he'd slept, but Rude set a plate of eggs on the table and directed her to sit.
'I'm, I'm not hungry," she stammered. The smell of food was bothering her stomach.
"Eat," Rude ordered, pushing her into the chair. "It'll make you feel better."
Obediently she began to pick at the eggs. Reno sat in a chair next to her and helped himself to the food.
"Rude and I are going to try to figure out who those punks from last night are," he told her through a mouthful. "If we can find them, we can put an end to Sir Lirves the Turd."
Elena grinned involuntarily. "Maybe Tseng knows something?" she asked.
"You mean the Ripper," Reno commented.
Rude nodded and sat on her other side. "We'll ask. If anyone knows all the scum in the city, it's Tseng." Naturally, Reno seemed to find that funny and began snickering into his food.
Something struck her memory. We'll ask Tseng…The conversation she'd overheard came back to her. She looked up. "Who got the couch?"
"Neither," Reno said proudly. "I told Rude that if he thought I was such an invalid I couldn't sleep on the floor, he needed a softer place to put his bald head. Then he said…" He trailed off. "You heard us?"
"Every word." Elena pushed the plate away. She wasn't hungry anymore.
Reno seemed to be smothering laughter. Rude, on the other hand, quickly got up and busied himself with wiping the counter.
"What is it I should know?" Elena demanded, trying hard to keep calm.
Reno appeared to be losing his fight. "Even…" he giggled, "the part about your boobs?"
She shot straight up, clutching the collar of her shirt. "What?" she yelled. "I didn't hear anything like that!"
"Don't tease her, Reno." Rude said quietly.
"Why?" Reno demanded, suddenly mirthless and irritated. "You're just mad because someone besides me knows you're still a virgin!"
Rude shot the redhead a black look, then turned sharply and walked out. Elena bit her lip, keeping silent. The obvious tension dragged on until Reno sighed and pushed back his chair.
"That was outta line," he said, as if reprimanding himself. "Tell him I'm sorry, all right?"
"Are you leaving?" she asked, not quite understanding what was happening. "Why was Rude so mad, anyway?"
"There was a woman…" Reno shook his head. "Nah, it's not my story to tell. Yeah, I'm leaving." He stood up.
Elena ran her fingers through her hair. "Where are you going?"
Reno grinned. "Don't you remember? I have business to attend to."
~
Elena sat stiffly in the passenger seat of Rude's car. Both of them were dressed in uniform, although Elena's was wrinkled from drying on the floor last night. Her hair was still wet. Rude had been kind enough to allow her to use his shower. In fact, he had been extremely gracious about the whole ordeal, and waved away her thanks. But he'd been quiet and rather withdrawn since the minor argument with Reno, and Elena didn't want to bother and anger him. She couldn't picture him angry with her, but she recognized Rude needed his space.
She looked up when he parked the car in front of a small café. "What are we doing?"
He turned off the ignition. "We're already late enough for work," he said without looking at her. "A few minutes won't make a difference."
She followed him out of the car and into the diner. He selected a secluded booth in a corner and ordered two cups of coffee from the smiling waitress. When she left Elena looked at him oddly.
"What's this all about, Rude?"
He smiled. "Pretty quick, aren't you?"
She shrugged. "I just know it's not coffee you want to talk about."
The smile disappeared. He reached across the table to touch the swelling bruise on her mouth. "How did this happen?" he asked gently. "I know Reno has been less than respectful to you, but I didn't think-"
"Oh no, it wasn't Reno," she said hastily. "I killed the guy who did this to me."
At first Rude grinned, then slowly realized she wasn't joking. He took off his sunglasses for a moment and met her eyes. Even though she had already seen it, the sight of that ugly scar still startled her a bit. And yet, his brown eyes were human, and she thought it was worth looking at the scar to be able to see him like a human being, a real person.
"I'm sorry, Elena," he said simply.
She wasn't sure why he was apologizing, exactly, but cast her eyes down. It was good to be able to see his face, but his gaze just then was a little too intense, a little too personal. She just wanted to forget last night, rather than let Rude bring her back to it.
He had just replaced the shades when the waitress arrived with their coffee. Rude accepted his without looking at her. "Thank you," he said dismissively.
The woman didn't get the hint. "Will there be anything else?" she asked cheerfully.
"No." Rude sipped his coffee.
"We have some lovely hash browns fresh off the oven," the waitress chattered. "And delicious-"
"I said 'no'," Rude said sternly.
For the first time, the woman looked at him closely, taking in the tell-tale blue uniform, the dark glasses. "Oh! I'm so sorry, sir!" she yelped, dipping her head. She looked from Rude to Elena, added, "Coffee's on the house," and scurried away.
Rude saw the question in Elena's eyes and shook his head before she asked. "Save it, Elena," he said wearily. "If you heard us last night you already know I don't want to tell you."
But Reno does, Elena remembered. Reno wants me to know whatever it is they're hiding. She resolved to ask him first chance she got.
Whatever the reason for her silence, Rude was grateful for it. He sipped his coffee for lack of anything else to do. Elena's brown eyes studied him, waiting. Looking at her, he could see how young, how untried she was. But he could also see how different she had become after just one night. There was something about her, now, a maturity that wasn't there before. There was sadness, too; Rude could see it in her eyes and the set of her mouth.
Tseng wanted to spare her this, he thought. But now it's been thrust on her, and all at once. He felt a moment's pity for the girl, for her lost innocence. And more than a moment's anger. This whole thing was Tseng's fault. He never had to hire her, he could have stopped it somehow. And even if he couldn't, he should've at least told her the truth. Now everything was that much harder for her.
But that wasn't important right now. He forced his mind back to the task at hand. He had to interrogate her.
"Elena," he said. "Try an remember. Do you have any idea who the gunmen may be working for?"
She shook her head, fixing her blond hair absently. "I never got a clue. Although…" She paused.
"Although what?" Rude pressed.
"The man who tried to rape me." She tapped her fingers nervously, thinking back. "He said…what was it…'He didn't mention you'." She looked up, puzzled. "The way he said it made it sound like they'd been expecting Reno, but not me. Does that help?"
"Maybe," Rude muttered, considering. It didn't strike him as a upraising against the Turks. Something told him this went far deeper.
Elena stirred her coffee, adding cream and a little sugar. Rude looked worried, which was odd, because he rarely showed human emotion. The knowledge that he could intrigued her.
Rude suddenly spoke. "He tried to rape you?"
"Yes," she replied, finding the question unusual. "That is, I think so."
He leaned forward. "Elena," he said with such violence it scared her, "if that ever happens again, I want you to yell for me. I don't care where it is or who's nearby. Yell for me, and I'll come."
"Why?" she asked hesitantly. "I can handle myself."
"Because," he said with that same unmistakable anger, "I know you can kill him. But- I and only I- can make him beg for death."
She wanted to ask "why" again, but was stunned by the untamed menace in his voice. Elena had seen only kindness from Rude. It disturbed her to know he might have another side, a frightening side.
Rude stood up, draining his coffee. Elena noted he had not left a tip for the waitress. "Let's go," he said.
Elena followed him out to the car. As he started to turn the key in the ignition, she reached over and put her hand over his. "Rude," she said softly. "Please. Tell me what I should know. It's not right, keeping it from me. You know it isn't."
He stared at her for a long moment. Elena waited, feeling as though those piercing eyes behind the lenses might strip her soul from her body. She tried hard not to fidget.
She suddenly remembered the pulsing venom in his voice when he told her to call for him. She dearly hoped he would never have cause to direct such anger at her.
No! a part of her mind screamed. Rude's so gentle! Then she remembered the hand flexing in that black glove, and wondered how she could have ever forgotten.
"No," he said abruptly, turning the key. Elena's hand fell away aw the engine roared to life. She turned sharply away, staring out the window.
"Elena," he said quietly after a few minutes. "Reno told me you followed him home. Will you tell me why?"
She recalled Professor Hojo's warning that he and Reno might be traitors, and her own vehement protest that Rude would never do such a thing.
But he was hiding something from her, though she couldn't fathom the reason. And suddenly she didn't want to know what it was anymore.
As he looked at him it seemed she could sense pity behind the dark lenses.
"No," she said flatly, turning back to the window.
They drove the rest of the way to work in silence.
* * * * * *
Reno arrived back at his condominium change into a new uniform. The one he'd worn last night last night was wrinkled and stiff with blood and rainwater. (He'd left it at Rude's, except for the pants) He had a few spares- years as a Turk had taught him the necessity of being prepared. Despite the initial feeling of rebellion, he'd taken to the job well, as Tseng must have foreseen. Rude had, to. Reno had never had any desire, after becoming a Turk, to change his profession, his job, his identity.
And yet, today he did.
It was Elena's fault, that much he knew. Her arrival had ruined everything, disrupted the steady rhythm of life for the three of them. She was upsetting the fragile waters of tranquility by her presence. The order of things was thrown out of balance- to return, she either had to be hauled out or drown. And Reno wasn't sure if, given a choice, he would decline either option for himself.
Once inside his condo, he grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and collapsed on the couch. He suddenly felt very weary, and very old. He wanted to blame it on last night, but he knew that wasn't it. Last night had been a rare moment for him…a moment when he'd felt truly alive.
Too much, Tseng would say, frowning. It's because you drink too much.
He popped open the tab with a practiced flip of his fingers. Was it possible to will oneself into alcoholism? Certainly; what had happened to him was no accident. It was so easy, not to care, just to will oneself into oblivion…
Elena. Because of her, that was impossible. It was either haul her our or let her drown.
Or pull her in…
He banished the thought from his mind. Elena? It was madness. As much as the woman annoyed him, he didn't hate her enough to do that. She wasn't trapped, like the rest of them. She had a life to live.
And besides, he'd never been the trainer, just the trainee…
What was there left? Somebody had to take action, and it didn't seem like Tseng had any great ideas. For a moment, it was almost funny…the Ripper was as helpless as the rest of them.
But he wasn't. Tseng could pull Elena out. And if he refused…well, Reno had tried his hand at training, once. He was sure he could get the knack of it again.
He closed his eyes, feeling like he was about to throw up. For the first time in years, he wanted out. It was becoming difficult to stand under the pressure, the need to give himself over to the madness, the lust to kill until all his problems went away. How easy, to blame them on everyone else.
Watch your back, Tseng, he thought dazedly. I wouldn't trust me to do it for much longer…
Rude didn't trust him either, he remembered. How strange; he and Rude had shared everything until Elena. Now they were all keeping secrets from each other, to protect each other. But was that really true? Did Tseng want to protect Elena for her or for himself? Was he afraid for his career, for his position in society? For that matter, was that why Rude didn't want to tell her, either?
But she was handling herself. She was stronger than she appeared. At least she had some degree of honesty about her. She'd cried, the previous night. It had been the first time she'd killed, in all probability. The first time she'd been in serious danger. It was rather pitiful,
but she didn't realize she was only sinking in deeper…
His thoughts were becoming hazy, indistinct. He forced his mind back to a more important subject: Last night's attack.
Lirves. He had to find out about him. And even if no one knew him by name, it would be kind of hard to forget a guy with a mechanical arm. It would be worth asking around, while he had the time.
But he was tired…so tired. It could wait a while.
Reno had nearly drifted off to sleep when the crying sound woke him. He rolled over, then cursed when the can of booze slipped from his grasp to puddle on the floor. He got up, rubbed a hand over his eyes, and went to see.
The cat was there, as he'd known it would be, sitting patiently on his front stood. It looked at him hopefully.
"Go away!" Reno snapped, shutting the door in its face. He sighed, then went to find a clean shirt. As long as he was up, he might as well make use of his time.
Lirves was a threat, he knew that much; but was he after Reno or Elena? More likely Reno; it was unlikely the guy would be interested in the little ditz.
Perhaps it was another protest group, like AVALANCHE. Reno bit back a laugh; the pathetic little crew of mercenaries and full-breasted chicks could hardly compare to the trained, professional gunmen of last night. Well, no matter. The threat would have to be extinguished. Rude and Elena would be busy hunting out Sephiroth today. Reno could take care of Lirves.
He booted the cat aside as he set out into the street and glanced up at the overcast sky. Things were looking up.
He suddenly laughed out loud, all of his old vigor back. Was he insane, wanting to quit? Defeat was not something Reno the Turk accepted. Grinning, he ran a finger over his nightstick.
Not defeat. Never defeat.
~And now, a note from the Author~
Hi! Long time no see. Yes, the fault mostly lies within my own laziness, but I also broke my computer for a few months….Oh yes. More chapters are on the way (I have the next four or five all done- in longhand, though)
A word about Lirves. Yes, I'm well aware he is so far nothing but a generic villain made to increase the action of the plot, but there is more to him. I just can't tell you right now. ^^
And finally, for those who are getting increasingly disgusted with Elena, (such as my editor), relax. She's learning, as we are beginning to see. And, before someone brings it up, I am not at the moment planning on inter-Turk couples. But if you feel you have to bring it up, go ahead, I won't get mad. (like I have any right to)
And thank you, everyone, for sticking with me and actually reading this. Have a sparkling day!
~Love, Lila