Author's Note: Another chapter finally up…and, once again, I don't own any of these characters; Square does

Chance Meeting

Eight hours and numerous alcoholic beverages later, a prodigious buzz had taken complete control of my body. The Friday night crowd had begun to disperse, knowing full well that they would be returning in mere hours, repeating the addictive habit they had grown so accustom to. I sat back in complete comfort, feet up on the opposing stool, trying to comprehend the series of event that had already unfolded through a alcohol clouded mind.

The night had turned into quite a fiasco. Reno's confidence level had more than tripled by his sixth beer, leaving him to believe that he was God's gift to every woman that stepped foot through Raul's bar. Stumbling horrendously and barely able to comprehend the simplest of sentences, he had been rejected by ever lady that he had hit on, including myself. Rude had a much simpler approach to the bar scene; he simply sat at the table, nursing his umpteen beer, watching his partner with absolute repugnance. How the two ever managed to coexist outside of work was beyond my understanding.

"You think he's bad now, give him another hour and a couple more beers." Rude muttered as we watched a attractive brunette's hand connect sharply with the side of Reno's face. I did my best to constrain my laughter as Reno clambered back to his stool, nursing a reddening cheek and the remainder of his wounded pride.

"It's okay, my dear." I slurred, placing my arm around the lanky redhead's shoulders. "You can't win them all."

The effects of alcohol never ceased to amaze me. Hours ago, I was drowning in self-sorrow, pondering the mere thought of my simple existence. Now, as the bar drew near to closing time, I thought my life couldn't have been any better. I didn't care that in less than thirty minutes, I would be aimlessly wandering the streets, looking for the best place to sleep for the night, hoping that tonight wouldn't be the night that a stray bullet would find me, leaving me for dead on the streets that I had grown so accustom too. To put it mildly, I was drunk and having the best damn time of my life.

"Alright guys - last call!" The bartender bellowed from behind the counter, looking equally as annoyed as the few remaining customers in the bar.

"Shit - already?" Reno's blood shot eyes shot down to his watch, trying to figure out exactly how to read it without falling out of his chair. Multitasking wasn't exactly Reno's strong point - especially when overwhelmingly intoxicated.

"T'sengs gonna shit when I show up late and hung over tomorrow." Reno stifled his laughter as his downed what I though would be his final beer for the evening. "Oh well, he'll get over it." He managed to convince himself, as he struggled to stand on his own two feet. Rude was in much better condition than his partner who barely swayed while getting to his.

"Night Raul." Reno lifted his arm into a half assed wave at the bartender who immediately returned the gesture. It was then I safely assumed that both Turks had been regulars at this bar for numerous years and, by the way they both drank, they were the reason Raul's bar was such a booming business today.

There was a brisk chill in the air as the door's to Raul's bar gave way to the world outside. I wrapped my tattered parka closer to me, hoping to conserve enough body heat for the duration of the night. There had been many nights that I had walked the streets, under complete sleep deprivation, desperately hoping I wasn't about to fall victim to the unrelenting cold that blanketed the lower plate nearly every night. I had been through too much - dying on the streets from hypothermia wasn't an option.

"I guess this is goodbye then." Reno muttered, a board grin slowly creeping across his face. "Unless you want to come home with me."

I stood in complete disbelief. Did he just say what I thought he said? Going home with him did mean a warm bed and perhaps a warm meal in the morning but, by the obvious look of pathetic seduction on his face, I knew he was going to want something in return. There was no way I was going to turn into my mother; I may be just a street rat but even I had my limitations.

"I'm fine," I sternly replied, watching Reno's bemused expression suddenly vanish. "but I'll walk your drunken ass home. It's not like I have anything better to do tonight."

"Maybe by the time we get there I can change your mind."

"I doubt it." I said, suppressing my laughter and giving him a falsified flirtatious wink. Within seconds, Reno's colossal ego had once again surfaced, as he wrapped his arms around my waist, holding onto me like I was his trophy for the evening.

"You coming too?" Reno questioned Rude, who looked as openly irritated as I felt.

"Got stuff to do." He murmured. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Have it your way then." Reno replied, proceeding slowly up the city streets. "See you later big guy!."

Several blocks later and numerous pity stops to feed Reno's drunken state with more beer, we had finally reached the better half of the city; the place where I called home. The chill had finally detached itself from my body, mainly because I had been Reno's walking aid for the duration of the trip, which had turned out not the be an easy task. Now, I fully understood why Rude didn't bother to tag along; if he was here, he would more than likely be carrying the drunken slob by now.

"Be right back - gotta drain the lizard." Reno suddenly blurted out as he made his way down an alleyway, finally giving me a moment to relax. "Unless you want to hold it for me!" He hollered as I watched him leave my sight.

"I'm all set, thanks." I replied, pushing my hair out of my face. It must have been three in the morning by now and the gleeful buzz I once had was rapidly giving way to a unrelenting headache. My several hours of carelessness had finally come to an abrupt end. It was now back to the real world - a reality I wish I never had to face.

"How long does it take to piss?" I asked myself, staring down at the seemily blank alleyway. "Yo, Reno!." I hollered, hoping to trigger an immediate response. Nothing. Where the fuck was he? By now, I had grown a little worried and a tad bit apprehensive. What if it was a trap? Then again, I convinced myself, Reno was so drunk I don't think he could conjure up any sort of plan in that alcohol induced brain of his. Curiosity had quickly gotten the best of me as I took off into the alleyway, hoping I would find Reno passed out, finally overcome by the abundance of alcohol he had consumed. What I found was much worse….

Okay, I figured this would be a good place to stop. Have a great holiday everybody! Will be back soon with chapter 3.…I promise.