Chapter Nine

"SO!" Zena practically crowed, causing Elena to flinch. "Reno carried you back here!"

"Yes." She replied, watching the blonde woman setting up the equipment she would need to tend to Elena's wound.

"Ah!" Zena turned to face her once more. "I'll bet that was just sexy!"

"Not so much... I was bleeding and in pain."

"Yeah, but then he just swooped in and carried you off. How heroic."

Elena just eyed her. On the way home, Reno had made it more than clear that she was to keep Aura out of her reports. She was not to mention the woman at all. It had to seem as if Reno had found her after she'd been shot and had taken her straight back to Healin Lodge. Now, Elena didn't like the idea of writing false reports or lying to Tseng, but she owed Aura. The woman had pretty much saved her life getting her out of the street like she had, so she had agreed. That meant, however, that she had to put up with Zena's gushing over how heroic Reno was.

"Ugh. Don't we have some materia or something?" She grunted when Zena touched her shoulder.

"No. All out. Have to do things the good old way."

"Yeah, well... we should do something about that." She muttered.

"Mhm... Well we have to make do." Zena replied, "Reno clean this?"

"Uh-... yeah."

"More than just a pretty face."

"Apparently."

"Are you guys going out again tonight?"

"Why?" Elena asked, wincing as Zena cleaned her wound again.

"Thought I might join you... It was such fun last time."

"I dunno..." Elena breathed "What with me being shot and all..." The last thing she wanted was to go and spend time watching the taller woman trying to get her hands all over Tseng or Reno. She had no doubt she'd feel ill if Reno responded to the other woman's advances. She didn't even want to think about watching her all over Tseng. She'd had enough of that on their date the other night. She wouldn't watch it again.

"Oh, I'll patch you up good as new." Zena replied. "You could even wear a dress tonight and you won't see a thing."

"I don't know..."

"Oh, come on!" The taller woman grinned, "I don't want to be the only woman there..."

Elena blinked, knowing full well that Zena would love to be the only woman out.

"I'll think about it." She replied softly.

Tseng ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. He never should have sent Elena to that part of town alone. The areas that were becoming rougher for Shinra employees were swiftly growing. If they were to patrol those areas at all it probably shouldn't be alone. Looking at the map on his desk he shook his head. He wouldn't be sending Elena back there anyway. If they were to keep the area on their patrols then it would have to be Reno or Rude. Possibly together.

Closing his eyes, he massaged his forehead. He really ought to go and see how she was doing. Reno had told him briefly that it was a clean wound and that she would be fine, but he wanted to see anyway. He got up and threw his pen onto the desk. He would have to make a report anyway. He always kept files on his Turks' health current and up to date.

Smoothing a crease from his shirt, he strode past his desk and out the door. It wasn't long before he reached the infirmary and walked in. Elena was sitting on a bed, swinging her feet while Zena closed a cupboard on the other side of the room.

"Hey Tseng!" The tall woman said, turning from the cupboard to face him. "I was just talking about you."

"She really was." Elena muttered. He strode toward the young Turk, looking closely at her shoulder when he reached her. "It's not too bad..." She said, looking up at him. He raised a hand, watching her stiffen as he lightly touched her shoulder. He didn't think he would have said it wasn't 'too bad'. It could have been worse, that was true enough. Elena would be out of commission for a while with it, however. Perhaps a month.

"I'm trying to persuade Elena to go out tonight. It would be fun." Zena said, coming toward them. Tseng watched Elena look up at him, clearly displeased.

"I think Elena should rest a while." He replied, noting the clear relief on his rookie's face. "I'll order her if I have to." He added, looking to Zena. He watched the tall woman pout, looking back at him.

"Well, that is a shame. I suppose I will have to go out myself..."

Elena just nodded, watching her. She had no doubt that if the woman went out alone that she would have a great time. She'd probably end up taking home more men than if she'd gone out with someone else.

"Perhaps you shall."

"Maybe." Zena grinned and winked at her.

Elena smoothed her hair as she knocked on the door. She had somehow managed to escape going out with Zena that evening. Thinking that she would enjoy a quiet evening at home, she'd been a bit surprised to find herself rather restless when home alone. After about an hour of not knowing what to do, and being unable to sit still, she'd grabbed her coat and left the apartment. While she still didn't feel like going to a bar with Zena, she felt the need for company all the same. Not really wanting to sit and be questioned by her colleagues, she instead found herself at Aura's door.

Knocking again, she blinked when the door was slowly opened. The cautious smile she received had her speaking almost instantly.

"Nobody has seen me..."

"Okay..." Aura looked quickly up the street before stepping aside to let her in. Stepping inside, Elena then moved toward the couch. The dark haired girl looked at her for a moment before taking a few steps toward the kitchen. "I… will get you something to drink…"

"Thanks…" Elena smoothed her pants softly while she waited for Aura to return. Taking the glass she was then offered, Elena looked again at Aura.

"… So…"

"Yeah…" Elena nodded, not really knowing what to say now.

"How is your shoulder?" Aura asked her.

"Pretty good…" She answered, "I mean, our doctor is … interesting… but she's still good at what she does."

"That's good…"

Elena nodded, smoothing her shirt out slowly. She remained silent when Aura sat on the other end and she could feel the woman looking at her. After a few moments, the girl cleared her throat and then spoke. "Was there something that you … particularly… wanted…?"

"I know it's none of my business…" Elena said, raising her eyes to meet Aura's strange green ones. Mako eyes. Rather like Reno's really. "I'm curious…"

"About me?"

Elena inclined her head. "I've known Reno for years…" She said, "And... well, he rarely shuts up. He just talks, all the time. I thought I knew him… The idea that he could keep a secret like this…"

Aura gave her a wry smile. "Isn't keeping secrets kinda what Turks do, yo…?"

Elena smiled back. "I guess so… just, not from each other."

Aura eyed the blonde woman on her couch. She seemed ill at ease, as if not sure of herself. Wondering if that was because she wasn't meant to be here, or the fact that she was trying not to pry, Aura got slowly to her feet. Elena looked up at her.

"I'll just get some wine, yo." She headed for the kitchen, "I have the feeling we may want it."

Returning a few minutes later with a bottle and two glasses, Aura poured Elena a drink and handed it to her before sitting down once again. Leaning back in her seat with her own glass, she returned to looking at Elena.

"Look," She said after a moment, pausing as Elena's brown eyes flicked to her. "I'm not practiced at at all this subtle intrigue and interrogation without revealing yourself… though it's obvious you want to know things. So, I'll tell you what you want to know, just ask the damn question, yo."

Elena flashed a quick smirk and took a sip of wine. Aura watched her swallow delicately and then lick her lips before she cleared her throat. "Reno said that you are his family…"

"We're not related." Aura told her simply, "But yes. We're family."

"How long have you known him?"

"Since I was fifteen" Aura replied. Elena's brown eyes were intent upon her and Aura let out a short breath before continuing. "I … Wasn't from the same part of the slum as Reno. At least not originally. I lived with my parents kind of on the outskirts… It was still a slum I guess… but when I was with them it didn't seem so bad. Or, maybe I was just young and they'd protected me… When I was thirteen my mother was … killed." Aura took a sip of wine. "My father tried… There was lots of Mako dumping going on… Offcuts that ShinRa had no use for, I guess." Elena looked away from her for a second before returning her gaze. "He got sick. It was pretty fast. When I was fifteen he died. … I guess people knew. Don't know if they were after me or what was in our house… I ran." She shook her head as she remembered. "I lasted three days before these two men caught me. They wanted to turn me into a Mako Whore. Reno saved me." She crossed her legs slowly. "He took me home. I would be dead a thousand times over if he hadn't." She looked at Elena silently for a few moments. "He looked after me for years… We became family… That's why he couldn't just abandon me when ShinRa told him to cut all ties with his past."

"Reno is quite protective…" Elena said gently. Aura nodded.

"The things he did for me…" She shook her head.

Aura had just arranged the two pieces of fruit she had managed to get a hold of that day on the small table in the kitchen. When Reno returned he would be most surprised. She couldn't wait to see his face. Fresh fruit was something they never got to have. It was rare enough in the slum, and when it was available it was far too expensive for them. She was probably even more excited to see Reno's reaction than she was to eat the fruit itself.

Hearing the door scrape behind her, she straightened up. "You won't believe what I found today…" She said, smiling as she turned to face him. The fist that collided with her cheek sent her to the floor. Aura barely had time to register what had happened when two pairs of hands seized her and dragged her to her feet.

"I don't believe what we just found." One of the men sneered, "Who knew what that little rat was hiding in here…"

"What… what do you want…?" Aura asked, trying her best not to panic.

"Well, we came to pay Reno a little visit…" The second man said, pulling her closer, "But I think you'll do…"

Aura shook her head. "No…"

"Aw, come on. You can be more hospitable than that…" He replied, his hand moving down her body. She tried to move away but he held tightly. The first man moved in front of her as she was lifted from the ground and he forced her legs apart. Aura shrieked.

"HEY!"

Aura's eyes found Reno quickly where he stood by the door.

"Look who's come to play." The man in front of Aura snickered as she was put back on the ground. Reno moved forward slowly.

"Let her go." He said, his voice low.

"Why would we do that…?" The one who still had a hold of Aura asked. "We were gonna have us a little fun…"

Reno looked at Aura, and she saw the moment that he made the decision. "Let her go… and I'll go with you." He said evenly, "Right now. I'll go and I won't fight you…"

Aura held Reno's gaze as the man holding her released her. Reno then looked away and she watched as he turned and led the two men into the other room. She shook as the door was shut behind them with a dull thud.

She tried not to listen as the sounds from the next room echoed around her. Closing her eyes she sank to the floor, wrapping her arms around herself.

It was about a half hour later when the door creaked open and the two men left without a word. A few minutes later Reno emerged slowly. He ran his hand through his hair as he pulled the door to the other room closed. Aura watched as he visibly took a deep, steadying breath before he turned toward her. He stopped when he saw her on the floor.

"Aur…" He hurried over to her, kneeling before her. "Aur, are you okay?" She just looked at him silently. He raised a hand and tilted her cheek to get a better look at her and she remembered being struck across the face earlier. "Shouldn't bruise too badly…" He said gently.

"Reno…" She murmured, still looking at him. He met her eyes silently. "I'm sorry…" She breathed.

He shook his head and she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. It wasn't the first time he'd whored himself for her and it wouldn't be the last.

Aura realised she hadn't spoken for a few minutes when Elena cleared her throat gently. "The things he did…" She said softly, "I can't ever make up for that…"

"I don't think you need to." Elena told her gently.

"I know that he doesn't expect me to pay him back, yo." She murmured, "But I still can never make us even."

Elena nodded, finishing her wine. "He's saved my life more than a few times." She told her. "I'd go insane if I tried to keep track to make us even. Sometimes, it's not about being even."

"Yeah." Aura murmured, swirling the wine around in her glass.

"It looks to me," Elena continued, "as if Reno would do just about anything to keep you safe. Look at what he's gone through to keep you somewhere safe and hidden from ShinRa… completely off the radar. I'd say that having you safe is enough for him."

Letting out a soft sigh, Aura finished her wine. "But is it enough for me?" She murmured. Then, looking back up to the blonde woman, she forced a smile. The Turk eyed her thoughtfully for a moment.

"Do you go out often?"

"Not really…"

Elena blinked and looked her over. "Do you have any friends?"

Aura looked away. "Apart from Reno?"

"Mmm."

"Well, it's always been better for people to not really know me…"

"None?"

"Well, my neighbour visits sometimes…" She looked at Elena, "He's fifty eight…"

"Right." Elena sat up straight. "You're coming out with me."

"You got shot…"

"I'm fine. Besides, it's not like we're going to get into a bar fight."

"Oh?"

The woman grinned at her. "Not all Turks are like Reno." Aura returned the grin. She hadn't expected they would be. Nobody was like Reno.

"So, where are we going?"

"Get dressed and I'll show you." Elena replied, getting to her feet.

"You want to borrow something?"Aura asked, looking the woman over and noticing that she wasn't exactly dressed to go out.

"Sure."

Aura smiled softly as she led the other woman into her bedroom to show her the wardrobe. It had been quite a long time since she had gone out to have fun. It just wasn't that appealing to her to go alone. It was also nice to have somebody to just talk to. Not that she couldn't talk to Reno. She could. She always had. But, he wasn't a woman. There was a difference. Waving her hand at the wardrobe, she cast a glance at Elena. "Take your pick…"