Chapter 2
Someone was shaking his shoulder, he pulled away and winced as sore muscles made themselves known. Mother damn them, he had been comfortable, drifting in a dark haze of numbing sleep. He was being shaken again and the someone was calling his name.
Yazoo opened his eyes. It took a second for his vision to focus and when it did he almost wished it hadn't. Reno was standing over him. He had a tray in one hand and was still talking.
"Its about fucking time you woke up. You've been asleep for two days already. Here, food." Reno offered the tray and sat it on a chair that he had pulled up alongside the one he was sitting on.
Yazoo sat up carefully. He rolled his shoulders and stretched slowly. Taking stock of the room he noted that he and Reno were alone, the bigger Turk was nowhere in sight.
"Rude's guarding the President, since the most aggressive thing you've done in the past few days is roll over we decided you weren't that dangerous" Reno lounged back in the chair and folded his hands behind his head with that cocky smirk on his face.
Yazoo felt a lot better. But it was probably to his advantage that Reno not know that. He could heal rather quickly and was pretty sure he could take the redhead now but wanted the element of surprise on his side when he decided to make his move. He sure as hell wasn't staying here. Loz would be worried sick by now.
"So you are stuck babysitting me then? Why?" Yazoo made sure to inflect a softer, more fragile tone into his voice with the question. He wanted Reno to be as at ease and unsuspecting as possible. Manipulation was also something Yazoo was inherently good at. When he and his brothers had been down on funds he could walk into a bar or club and within twenty minutes have some poor fool following him outside with the promise of 'Your place or my place?' Only to have either Loz or Kadaj slit their distracted little throats and Yazoo pick their pockets.
Reno shrugged. "The President wanted us to keep ya. Who knows what goes through his mind sometimes?"
That was not at all reassuring to Yazoo. Shinra was of course the owner of the labs he and his brothers had been made and raised in. Considering the torturous experiments and training they had been put through he was pretty sure he didn't want to be back in their custody in any way.
He let none of that show on his face, just lowered his head a little, letting his hair fall in his eyes. Loz had always told him he hid behind it, that it made him look fragile when he wasn't. Yazoo hoped it had that effect now. "Is there a shower or something?" he asked Reno.
The redhead nodded and motioned to the bathroom. Yazoo stood carefully as if still dizzy and seemed to test his bad knee gently. Reno watched him openly.
"Feelin' better?"
Yazoo just shrugged and limped slightly to the bathroom. Once he shut the door he quickly scanned the room for cameras, finding none, he threw off the act. His knee was fine and his wrist healed. The stitches in his scalp itched and he made a mental note to take them out while in the shower.
He hadn't lied to Reno about that at least. Yazoo hated feeling filthy, especially with his own blood. While running through the shower with his body on auto pilot he began to formulate his plan of action. The door to his room was thick steel and was locked with a code. He was pretty sure he wouldn't get the code out of Reno. But the hinges were on the inside, the weak points, he knew he couldn't unbolt them from the wall or remove the pins but maybe he could break them? It was probable but not the safest route. The other option was the window which would give him immediate access to outside.
That was the way to go. If he could play it right he would be standing in front of it with Reno behind him. He could flip the Turk over his shoulder and against the glass to break it then follow suite. Reno may not be too happy about that but Yazoo didn't care. He wanted to get to Loz and there wasn't anyone that was going to stop him.
Shower done he quickly finger combed his wet hair and tossed his boxers, leather pants and undershirt back on. His coat and shoes were still in the room. He opened the door, limped back in and sat back on the edge of the bed. Reno was still in the same spot, lounging lazily in the chair near him.
"You aren't as mean as you were before."
The statement caught Yazoo of guard slightly. "What do you mean?" Better to get him talking anyway, he wont be as focused.
"Before, when you were with your brothers or whatever, it just seemed like you were naturally cold and apathetic. But now, you're not. What gives?" Reno asked the question like he didn't care, and he probably didn't, he was probably just bored but its still needled into Yazoo.
"Perhaps you just haven't been around me long enough when I'm conscious and clear headed?" The words could be taken as an attempt at being threatening, but his tone turned it more into something like a plea. Please don't try to open me up…. The way someone who was inherently vulnerable would say it.
Reno took the bait. He smiled, not the cocky devil may care smile but something more genuine. "Maybe" this was said in a friendly manner, then he leaned forward till he was nearer Yazoo. "Or maybe you just aren't as ruthless and cruel as you make yourself out to be"
Yazoo turned his head away, letting his hair obscure his features again. The movements of one who had been hit right to the heart. Inwardly he smiled, he had the Turk by the throat and he didn't even know it.
A few hours passed, they didn't talk much more accept for Reno to tell him he should eat something and gesturing to the tray he had again. Yazoo did but only the fruit, he knew that if there was any poison or drug in fruit he would be able to taste it, he had learned and perfected that skill in the labs, but other foods could mask it easily.
When the sun began to sink behind the clouds and down towards the horizon he stood and limped over to the window as if to watch the sunset. Time to execute his plan. After staying there for a time he winced and gasped just loud enough for the Turk to hear, he leaned against the window sill and kind of twisted himself to take his weight off his "injured" knee.
"Hey, you okay?" Reno was up and walking towards him. Yazoo let him get close, close enough to lay a hand on his arm to help him back to bed, when he struck. Grabbing Reno's arm and shoulder he pulled him forward and jammed his knee into his stomach then flipped him over it into the glass. The noise and sound of glass breaking let him know it was a success and he was about to move through the window until he stopped short. Beyond the window was nothing but blackness, where there should be trees and a sunset there were just the vague makings off a stark room. It had been a two way mirror with imaging technology to conceal it.
It didn't matter. Yazoo jumped through and stepped over Reno who was gasping for air on the floor surrounded by broken glass. He ran to the door, which was much less sturdy than his and kicked it open when he found it locked. He ran into the hallway and took an immediate left, there was no one there so he followed it. If he could manage to avoid the pursuit that he knew had to be coming he could find a way out. There was no way that there wasn't some alarm that had sounded somewhere when he had broken the mirror.
Voices and the sound of running footsteps came from his right and he quickly ducked into the next room he found. It looked like an old clerks office and he quickly hid in a small space between an ancient file cabinet and a wall, any clear view of him was blocked by a small unassuming desk. The footsteps were coming down this hallway and all doors were being opened and the rooms behind them quickly searched.
Yazoo curled into himself on the floor and made himself as small as possible. There was nothing in the immediate vicinity that struck him as a weapon so he waited, prepared for a fight if necessary. The door opened and light footsteps came into the room, light but steady, a woman most likely. Possibly the blond Turk Kadaj had tortured? She came into the room and gave a cursory search, she came very close to him at one point but was facing the wrong direction to see him. When she left Yazoo waited, keeping a mental clock of minutes by counting to 60 repeatedly. When he reached five minutes he quickly stepped out of the room and went after the footsteps. Better to stalk your enemy than to have them behind you. Hopefully they would lead him to an exit.
He rounded a corner and saw double doors that looked like they led to some type of loading dock. The hallway leading to it was clear and empty and without side doors, in fact it seemed that it hadn't been used in awhile. Small cobwebs were strung between the lights and the floor didn't have the shiny waxy polish of the others. He made a beeline run for the doors and burst through them.
The second he burst through he was grabbed by the shoulders and pulled back wards against a hard strong chest. The room he had entered was pitch black. Yazoo struggled and kicked but in his position it was pretty useless and he knew it. The larger Turk, Rude had his arms pinned against him with his arm wrapped around his torso, when Yazoo tried to kick backwards Rude lifted him off his feet slightly, making it harder to get leverage and increasing the pressure on his ribcage.
"Keep it up and I might just break your ribs, one by one." Rude's voice in his ear was one of the more eerie things Yazoo had experienced in his life. Even Kadaj speaking at times as if possessed or the almost inhuman screams he had heard in the labs when he was younger didn't sound as horribly black as that voice. Yazoo could hear the countless murders, kidnappings, crippling and bone breaking behind it.
This man had killed in cold blood, maybe even more people than Yazoo himself, without personal reason or real gain, a hired killer. That made it somehow different from Yazoo and his brothers, they had killed in the name of Jenova and Sephiroth, their mad, almost religious fervor had, to them, excused their deeds as the necessary actions for what must be. Rude had never needed those reasons to help him justify his actions. And that just made him a whole lot more scary than Yazoo had originally seen.
The doors behind them burst open again and the lights in the dark room flipped on. It was a storage room, nothing, no doors to the outside. He had never been close to escaping.
"So you caught the bastard. Good thing too, he gave me a damn hard kick the little fucker." Reno came into his line of sight looking a little more rumpled than before. He had the other black haired Turk with him, the supposed leader.
"It will teach you to keep your guard up Reno" remarked the one with the black hair. He was reaching into his pockets for something.
"Awww come on boss. You guys knew he would try it anyway. Better to happen sooner than later right?"
The leader said nothing but uncapped the syringe he had produced. At the sight of it Yazoo started struggling again. He would be damned if he would let them put whatever it was into him. Rude just tightened his grip and Yazoo ignored the pain it brought. Reno had come forward and was pinning his legs with his own and holding Yazoo's arm out for the other Turk.
"Damn you! No!"
The needle slipped into his vein effortlessly and Yazoo felt his world rock slowly. All strength drained from the tense muscles. Just before his vision died he saw Reno's face, he wore an odd expression, almost something like sadness and distaste. Then there was nothing but cold, dreamless oblivion.
Reno watched as Yazoo's struggling slowly ceased and his emerald green eyes closed. His expression had such fear and helpless anger that he was struck with a kind of sense of how wrong this was. How many times had Yazoo faced this same situation in the labs, his own consciousness torn away from him against his will? Leaving him in the care of strangers? It would drive Reno crazy to have it happen only once.
When his eyes close Rude shifted his grip and picked him up under his shoulders and knees.
"Take him to the smaller suite beside our quarters. The one without the windows. He will be out for another 12 hours or so. I want you both with him when he wakes up, if you need to sedate him again go ahead."
Rude just nodded and went. Reno stuffed his hands in his pockets and shifted his weight from foot to foot. Tseng raised an eyebrow at him. "What it is?"
"What are we doing with him boss? I mean, first we were trying to kill them right? Keep them from Jenova? Turks don't take prisoners so what is he?"
Tseng gave him one of his looks that said 'Questioning things you shouldn't be?' "Rufus wants them like his father had Sephiroth once. I'm not sure why as of yet but its really the best for both parties."
Reno frowned. "How is it good for them? And I thought Yazoo was the only one we had."
Tseng looked at his watch. "Elena and is going to scout around and see if she cant find
signs of the other brother. As for them, what do you think would happen if they reappeared somewhere now? News of them and the havoc they caused has spread as far as Wutai already. Not to mention AVALANCHE."
Reno sighed and nodded. It was true. Cloud and AVALANCHE had hunted Sephiroth to the ends of the planet and back. True, they had their reasons and such but who was to say that they wouldn't deal with these two the same way?
And if Yazoo and his brother didn't agree to work with Shinra? Then what? Would they just be returned to the labs as specimens for more torture. Reno had seen what went on in the labs and he knew that torture was a more accurate word than 'experiments' for what they did there.
There had been scars on Yazoo's skin that didn't look like they were from any fight either. An image of defiant green eyes flashed in his mind. To go through all that and still not be broken…
Reno's anger at Yazoo had faded leaving something else. Not pity, it was impossible to pity Yazoo, he just had an air about him that didn't allow it. He didn't know what it was but it stuck with him.
Cold. That seemed to be the only thing that he could feel at the moment. Dimly Yazoo reached out and found a familiar hand, pale skin with delicate fingers so like his own. He knew it with the illogical clarity that one knows things in dreams that this was Kadaj. He pulled his younger brother close and into his arms. Kadaj pressed his face into Yazoo's neck and shoulder and pressed a kiss to his skin.
Make this last forever….
He knew he was dreaming but it didn't matter that much did it? Not if he could keep Kadaj here with him. But his brother was pulling away, moving so he could face him.
"Yazz"
Yazoo looked at Kadaj, he was just as he remembered him. Creamy pale skin and moonlight hair with a faint blush over his skin and that slight gleam of madness in his eyes that captivated him. But the features changed, twisting into something just as familiar yet terrifying. When Sephiroth spoke it was with HER voice, once so loved and cherished it sparked off a hatred in him so fierce he thought he would shatter under its weight.
Yazoo screamed and fought against Sephiroth and Jenova. Get out of my mind, get out of me!
"Hey! Relax! Holy shit your gonna break something of you keep this up. Yazoo! WAKE THE FUCK UP!"
There was a flash of pain across his cheek and Yazoo opened his eyes. He was lying on his back with Reno poised above him. One hand was holding Yazoo's wrists pinned above his head and the other had been the cause of the pain. Rude was nearby and must have been using the sheet to pin his legs as well.
Yazoo twisted away from Reno who let go of him and moved off the bed. Yazoo was still trying to get his breath back and regain some sense of composure.
"Sweet Shiva what the hell were you dreaming about? Thought you were gonna rip your arms from their sockets to get away." Reno was rubbing the back of his neck looking perplexed.
Yazoo didn't answer, just put his back up against the wall and brought his knees up to his chest and folded his arms on top of them.
Rude's cell rang and he answered it quickly. Yazoo didn't bother to listen. He was in a terrible mood and just wanted to be left alone or for someone to push his buttons so he would have an excuse to beat them to a bloody pulp.
It was the first dream he had had about Kadaj since he had died. Yazoo and Kadaj had always paid attention to their dreams as it was usually the best way for Mother to communicate with them. No, Not a Mother, Jenova. Mothers don't kill their own children. But why the hell would his mind twist the image of his beloved brother so much? You know why… You just don't want to face the guilt… Yazoo cut off his train of thought as he saw a hand wave in front of his face annoyingly.
He returned his attention to the room where Reno was standing in front of him.
"Damn. Finally. Is insanity a family trait? You looked like you were out to lunch permanently or something." The redhead sat back in a chair and leaned back so only the back feet were on the floor.
Yazoo's emotions flashed for a moment. "What the hell are you trying to accomplish by keeping me here? What does Shinra want with me?"
Reno smirked at him as if glad to see him lose his cool for a moment. "I'm sure someone like you can figure it out. What were you trying to do when we found you? Find you brother? Why? So you can escape Midgar and go off to some nameless place where no one would have heard of the Silver Haired Men and the damage they did to Midgar? Where's that? And what about Strife? You think of he found out you were still alive he wouldn't hunt you down like a dog? Its for your own good-"
Yazoo laughed. Reno stared at him like he had grown another head. He had heard the small teasing laughs Yazoo made when fighting but this was different, it was bitter and slightly hysterical and absolutely beautiful at the same time. Reno wondered what his real, happy laugh sounded like, or did he have one?
"Do you want to know what happened the first time someone told me something was for my own good?" the clone said after the laughter subsided.
It was a challenge, the way he said the words. Like would you dare venture here…
"Sure, not like we got anything pressing to do. Hit me."
Yazoo's eyes went distant for a second, then focused sharply at something only he could see. "I was about eight years old, strapped to a metal table in the labs. A scientist made what he called a 'surgical incision' it went from my right ribs down to my left hip. No anesthesia or pain killers of any kind. He unstrapped my left hand and placed it over the cut, I pressed down to try and stop the bleeding. I didn't realize what he was doing until it was too late. He stitched the palm of my hand to one of my internal organs. He released all the other straps and said 'its for your own good, learn endurance and problem solving' he took his equipment and left the room. I guess he wanted to see me get free on my own. He made Kadaj and Loz watch the whole time…"
Yazoo stopped abruptly and went still with shock because Reno had gotten out of his chair and somehow he had his arms around Yazoo, not hard, not to hurt but for something else.
"I'm sorry" said the redhead softly.
"I don't want your pity!" Yazoo pushed Reno away hard. He regretted putting his back to the wall because now he was stuck. Why had he even told the redhead anything?
Reno had expected it and just looked at Yazoo with a kind of wry expression. "You don't have it. You survived right? You put up with a lot of shit and came out alive. Pity is for the ones who didn't make it. Look at it as a congratulatory hug if you must. But don't get me wrong, I know you're strong and I respect it. Hell, I wouldn't have to be here guarding you if you weren't."
That took the proverbial wind right out of Yazoo's indignant sails. But he still wasn't going to let Reno close enough to touch him again. He hated being touched by anyone other than Kadaj and Loz. But no one had ever said anything like that to him, especially not after he had fought them repeatedly, thrown them through a wall of glass and been a general pain in the ass.
"Whatever" Yazoo leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. He could hear Reno moving around doing gods know what. It bothered Yazoo that the Turk was right. There really wasn't anywhere else for he and Loz to go now. But what the hell would happen if they stayed here? Nothing. Stuck in a room like this with one of the Turks for company? It might just drive him insane.
There had never been a time when they hadn't had a clear defined goal to accomplish. First, in the labs when they were small it was surviving, then being hell bent on escaping, then gathering the resources and things they would need to be able to find Mother. Now….Nothing. Finding Loz, but he would need another escape plan and that would take time. Would Loz still even be in Adjit by the time he finally got free? Loz…..
A muffled roar of anger from the outside hall tossed him out of his thoughts like cold water had been thrown over him. It was his brother… no doubt. But here? Was he hearing things now? Yazoo closed his eyes again. Sometimes he and Loz could sense each other, like vaguely wondering how your hand was and receiving back a general status report. He got it, it was Loz, and he was pissed and this was not good.
Reno had drawn his EMR and was pacing in front of the door. Yazoo stood and walked to the wall that had the hallway on the other side. He pressed his ear to it. Reno put his EMR to Yazoo's temple and gave him a warning look, one shock would knock him out cold.
Yazoo ignored him. He couldn't make out the words his brother was yelling but he could hear the female Turks voice and Rude's along with his. Yazoo took a few steps backwards.
"Hey. Don't even think about it man. I don't wanna have to hurt you."
Yazoo continued to ignore him. There had been a similar situation in the labs when he and Loz had been put into a room that was sectioned off by a plane of shatterproof glass. Loz and Yazoo had been put on one side, Kadaj on the other. Then they put a monster into the section with Kadaj. Kadaj had been only nine at the time, and while he was already an accomplished fighter he was still small and vulnerable.
Instead of Kadaj trying to hold his own against the monster they had all three attacked the same spot in the plane of glass. When it broke they pried it open enough to pull Kadaj through. Yazoo hoped that Loz would remember.
He eyed the door. Solid reinforced steal. No way. But the walls were just walls right? Yazoo launched a flying kick at the wall to the left of the door and right beside Reno's head.
Reno swung his EMR and Yazoo had to dodge a few hits before he could land another blow to the wall. But it had gone momentarily silent on the other side making him worry for a second. But Loz was hard to tranquilize. Yazoo believed he had built up a practical immunity.
After the second blow he landed he heard a responding hit. Yazoo smiled. He dodged more of Reno's attacks but he landed a shot to his side. Resisting the urge to curl up Yazoo directed his own attack at the redhead. He managed to catch an opening and sent Reno flying into the battered part of the wall. When he slid to the floor the plaster above his head crumbled and broke. Loz continued to punch and kick his way through.
Yazoo's joy at seeing his brother was short lived as the door opened to reveal the dark haired Turk. Yazoo growled in anger when he leveled a gun at his head. The Turk leader was close enough that Yazoo knew he had no chance of dodging.
"Hold it there Loz!"
Loz narrowed his eyes in anger at seeing the position Tseng had his brother in. He went still.
"Rude. Would you please tell me what the hell is going on?"
Rude came up behind his boss looking worse for wear. He stood at attention and began to give his report. Reno also picked himself off the floor and away from Loz.
"Sir, Elena reported that she had the subject in custody and needed assistance. I went to help her and we managed to get into the building and near a holding room when he said he wanted to see his brother. When Elena refused the request he became belligerent and violent. Apparently Yazoo responded to this and they both took action to break the wall dividing them."
Tseng almost seemed to smile. "I see. Loz if we allow you to be with your brother will this behavior stop?"
Loz looked at Yazoo. "As long as you don't hurt him we have a deal" he said finally.
Tseng clicked the safety back onto his gun and returned it to its holster. Yazoo let out a long breath and Loz came the rest of the way into the room. It took a minute for the reality to sink in. Loz was here.
Yazoo took the last steps between them and Loz pulled him close and wraped his arms around him. Yazoo buried his face in his brothers chest. Gods how he had missed him. Loz was stroking his hair and crying softly. Yazoo looked up and pulled away slightly, suddenly very conscious of the fact that the Turks were still watching. He raised a hand to wipe his brothers tears away and gave him a small smile.
Yazoo took in Loz's state for the first time. He had dark circles under his eyes and his shoulders weren't as straight as they usually were.
They didn't need words. Yazoo tugged him to the bed and bid him lie down. Loz obeyed but caught his hand before his closed his eyes.
"I searched every where. I thought you were dead. I couldn't stand losing both of you…" Loz's voice was rough and weighted with his exhaustion.
"I know Loz, just get some sleep okay?" Yazoo pulled a blanket over him and shook his head when his brother was out cold.
"So you really are brothers. Not just something you say because of Jenova?" the question came from the Tseng.
Yazoo sat down on the edge of the bed. "We are the only family we have."
Tseng watched him for a minute with his dark eyes, coming to a conclusion. "Alright. I'll send someone to patch this hole up. I'm not going to bother moving you again since you can just do the same thing again if it comes into your head. Do you still want to leave?"
Elena appeared behind Tseng. "AVALANCHE was chasing your brother when I found him. You may want to consider that" she informed him haughtily.
Yazoo sighed. The last thing he needed was Cloud with his huge sword and his gang of misfits after them. "I wont go anywhere until Loz recovers. After that unless there is a purpose for us to be here I don't make any guarantees."
Tseng nodded. "Understood. Reno and Rude, you two can remain on duty. Switch as you please." With that he left.
"Damn, did you have to throw me so goddamn hard!" Reno whined as he made his way back to his chair and slumped into it. Rude took up a position in front of the massive hole in the wall.
"You shouldn't have tried to keep us apart." Yazoo replied calmly. Reno just glared at him.
"Yeah, well forgive us for not realizing you were completely co-dependent" he sneered.
Yazoo just shrugged, it was practically true so why should he care? He couldn't imagine life without Loz. But…. There had also been a time when he had thought the same thing about Kadaj, and now here he was, alive without him.
Yazoo watched Loz sleep, thankful he wasn't snoring. Would Loz be angry when he woke up? Would he blame Yazoo for what happened to Kadaj? Yazoo knew that logically it wasn't his fault. So then why did he feel so guilty? You fought, you were the only one he listened to. If you wouldn't have told him what you did maybe he wouldn't have been so reckless. He would have waited for you and Loz to complete the Reunion…If only you hadn't said what you did….
AN- Please please please review? Many thanks to devinedragon for reviewing and here you have your answer.
