Heh, I'm QUITE sure I've made you all suffer long enough, so please do forgive me. I'll admit, I was a tad busy with the end of the school year coming around, but that doesn't give me an excuse, I know. I've just been busy with several other things—and kinda lost my motivation for typing. No biggie, I found it again, what with reading all those lovely reviews you supplied. Thanks a lot, and for you, my readers, but I have one final message. For failing to inform you in the previous chapter, I feel it my duty to remind you (if you did not receive a message from me) that there will be a brief case in which Reno is, to put it bluntly, raped. No description at all of that event, actually, so now—if you haven't been discouraged to read this, I bring you a second chapter:

I'm a Turk, I'll Live

Chapter 2

An intruder at Shinra Inc. brings his grudge for the Turks against one of them—Reno. After their first encounter, Reno is forced to pull his life back together by his only friend, Rude. But…that enemy is still out there. Though Reno survived this time, that doesn't mean he or the others will in the future…

--

Atavistic Angst

--

Rude bit his lower lip, as he sat almost stoically in his seat, tapping his finger incessantly on the wooden table before him. This action had been going on for well over half an hour, his anxiety growing with each tap.

It had been forty-five minutes since the trio of Turks had arrived with Rufus Shinra at the Healin Lodge, and there hadn't been a sight or sound from Reno.

Rude tapped his finger again, again, and again…and stood up abruptly. The silence drifting through the lodge was broken, and Tseng and Elena even looked over at him, hushing their already quiet conversation. Rufus looked up from his novel, and watched wordlessly as the sunglass-wearing Turk retreated to the back room, closing the door firmly behind him.

In one swift motion, he pulled out his PHS and hit a button. Reno's number was dialed instantly.

It rang once, twice…three times. If Reno hadn't picked up the phone by the third ring…chances were he wasn't going to answer. But he wouldn't give up hope. Four rings…five.

And then someone answered the phone.

"Reno?" Rude asked, almost eagerly.

"I don't think so," Came a silky voice, "Sorry."

"Who is this, then?" Rude's anxiety built evermore.

"I have a name…but I'm not telling you…not now, anyway. I have a feeling you're going to want to remember it, so why waste the surprise now?"

"Where's Reno?"

"Reno? The redhead," the voice stated flatly. "Oh, he's here. In fact," excitement flared in the other's words, "I was wondering when someone was going to call or show up for him. I was beginning to worry no one cared!"

Again, the Turk replied without showing much emotion. "Put him on."

A chortle from the other line, followed by, "Oh, no! We just can't have that! He's…preoccupied at the moment." There was a sort of cry of pain, strangled, in the background. "Shall I take a message?"

"Is this some kind of game?"

"No, no! Not in the slightest. Oh, but I am having my fun!" Reno could be heard, faintly cursing in the distance.

"…I won't let you get away with this." Malice stained Rude's words.

There was scoff on the other line. "I thought you Turks weren't capable of compassion!"

Reno yelled out a mangled stream of swears; there was a gunshot. Reno gave a pained cry, but not one of a dying man…apparently he was just being toyed with.

Rude couldn't stop himself. "What are you doing?"

"To him?" Came the quick answer, "I'm only giving him what he deserves." There was a sort of derived chuckle given, and then Reno was heard. "What're you—Hey! Get off me! Rude—!"

And the phone clicked shut.

Rude cursed, mixed emotions running through him as he, too, closed the phone. Without much else, he stormed out of the back room and towards the front room.

Elena spoke, first, "Rude? Did you get a hold of him?"

Rude gave a quick nod, still taking long strides, "Yes."

Tseng, watching with his ever-calculating gaze frowned. "Where are you going?"

"To get him."

Elena blinked. "Is something wrong…?"

The hairless Turk didn't give an answer; he was already out the door.

--

Rude pushed down on the breaks, parking the spare company car he had borrowed from the Healin Lodge. Opening the door swiftly, he practically leapt out and dashed towards the halfway-dilapidated Shinra building.

It took only a moment for the Turk to trace his way through the building and back to where their assailant had first appeared—he figured if he was going to look for him he mine as well start there.

Apparently, that had been a good idea.

Silently, Rude made his way to the corridor Reno had disappeared into when the rest of the Turks departed from the building. He swiftly crossed into view.

He was met with a sight that made him blanche, a sight that made—him—a damned Turk want to shield his eyes. Forcedly, though, he forced himself to look away from Reno's bloody, pantless form and concentrate on the grinning silver-haired male that stood before him, zipping up his pants.

"Ah, you're right on time," he said cheerfully. "I've just finished, you see."

Rude flared in anger. "You sick bastard!"

"Perhaps, perhaps," the cheerful demeanor disappeared, "But know only this. Turks…Shinra…you and your lot will always be worse. Take that," he jerked his thumb towards Reno, "as your warning. I'll be back."

The warning was menacing enough, but it didn't phase Rude. The bald man swiftly made a leap to go after his still unnamed enemy, but the latter was too quick in summoning a seeming portal. He disappeared in a scant matter of seconds.

In the momentary distraction, Rude hadn't caught Reno fishing his pants back into their proper position, or seen the redhead force himself into a standing position. It was only when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw his partner stagger and collapse.

Rude turned abruptly, making his way towards his fallen comrade. "Reno—?" He knelt next to the redhead, gently raising him up when there wasn't a response. Rude frowned when he took into observation the condition of the smaller male—his face was pale and drawn, blood staining his features. His clothes were torn in various places, blood seeping through open wounds still. A little more worried, now, he tried again. "Reno?"

This time Reno managed to open his eyes slightly and even offer a wan grin. "Rude…ya did come. I thought maybe—"

The larger of the two shook his head. "Quiet, Reno, don't talk. I just wanted to see if you were awake. I'm going to get you to a hospital, we'll—"

Reno interrupted rather vigorously, "Rude, no! Don't—it's bad enough that you know, but if Tseng or Rufus or Elena…if anyone else finds out…" he swallowed, grimacing, "I'd just be a laughing stock. Please, Rude…I'll do anything—just don't take me to the hospital? And…and if you…won't…not take me, just leave. I don't care how, I'll walk home…"

Rude again shook his head, and as determined as he was to get Reno some medical attention…he knew Reno was twice as determined not to. He let out a sigh, lifting his small partner into his arms as he stood up. His eyes latched onto the pool of blood in which Reno had once been laying in, quickly turning his eyes away as he stalked towards the door.

"So where are we going…?" Reno asked warily, looking up at Rude. "And…don't carry me. I'll walk. I'm not some pansy…" the redhead said firmly, though it was quite obvious to Rude that he was forcing himself to stay conscious.

"Just shut up, Reno. I won't take you to a hospital, but try to rest until I can get you home, at least. We'll get you cleaned up and in bed."

Reno lowered his gaze, subconsciously allowing his limp for to lean against Rude's form as they walked out of the Shinra Building. "I still don't want you to carry me…"

Rude merely frowned. "It's this or the hospital.

"…You're a cruel person," the redhead protested half-heartedly.

Rude was silent for a long moment before looking down at the individual in his arms. "Hey, kid…partner…you gonna be okay…?"

Reno lazily opened an eye. "What, you mean after having the shit kicked outta me, then having some guy's cock shoved up my ass a couple of times?" Rude felt Reno shrug as he paused, "Like he said, I had it coming. Besides, I'm a Turk, I'll live."

Rude said nothing more as he loaded Reno and himself into the car.

There will be another chapter posted possibly in a week, at most, but sooner probably. Now that school's out, I have a lot more time on my hands to do as I please. So, alas, if you enjoyed this, please to leave a review—remember, no matter how small or short it is, I really do love getting them. Thank you to all my readers, as well as to you, Kyu-chan, for beta-ing this for me.