Title: Boy Soldier

Author: Neldluva FFVII

Pairings: None, or lots, depending on how you look at it.

Rating: NC17

Don't read this if you don't like: Angst, sex (of the m/m and m/f sort), foul language, underage sex, questionable consent, masturbation, voyeurism (sort of), violence, blood, drug and alcohol use, prostitution

Disclaimer: Reno and FF7-verse are definitely not mine. Please don't sue, I have negative monies. The OC's are mine, though. Don't steal.

What you can expect from the fic overall: This is my version Reno's backstory, or how he got where he was in the various FF7 games and movies. It is a long, difficult journey, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. But hey, that's life.

What you can expect from this chapter: Just more stuff. Essie's back!

Author's note: I am a bad, bad author. I'm sorry to have left this alone for so long, and I will try my hardest not to do so again. The upcoming chapters get pretty intense, so … consider this the calm before the storm. Hope you like!

It was with new attitude that Reno strutted down the street in the slums, looking for Essie. He was a real Turk, no longer just a trainee, and he was fully qualified to use the EMR attached to his wrist. He even whistled a little, and didn't care when people gave him odd looks.

"Hey, Es," he called as he approached her. "Long time no see."

"Reno!" she cried, latching herself around his neck. "Look at you, all grown up! Spiffy suit you've got, yo."

"Yeah, it's my new uniform," he explained, preening a little. He directed Essie down the street and away from some of the other girls who had started to give them dirty looks. "Up for dinner or somethin'?"

"Sure, Reno," she said, wrapping an arm around his waist to steady herself. "I look like a classy lady now, I bet, strutting around with my very own Turk…"

Reno chuckled and squeezed her shoulders. "Yup. You know you're always classy to me, Es."

Essie laughed merrily and tugged at his hair. "You're a charmer, Reno. Now stop lyin' out your ass and buy me some food."

They made their way to one of the nicer restaurants, and Reno spent a good portion of his first real paycheck on a good meal for Essie. It made him feel good just to be around her and listen to her kind voice, chattering away about things that didn't mean life or death.

"I ain't seen you much lately, yo," she pointed out over the meal. "You been busy?"

"Yeah, really busy," Reno answered. "A lot of it is classified, though, so I'm not supposed to talk about it."

"But you're doin' okay, right? You're not getting hurt?"

"Nah, I been hurt lots worse," he reassured her with a grin. "I really like it, Es. It's good work for me."

She smiled brightly at him, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. "That's good, Reno. I'm happy for you."

He paused for a moment, then reached across the table to hold her hand. "You sure you won't come live up on the Plate? I could set you up, get you a place. You wouldn't have to live here no more. You could get real work. I wouldn't have to worry about you."

Essie looked at him, slowly pulling her hand away. "I told you, Reno, it's no place for me. I've … I've got friends here. This is just fine, I'm doing okay." She smiled, trying to reassure him. "Don't worry about me, yo."

Reno frowned a little, but he dropped it. He wasn't about to force Essie to move if she didn't want to, but he couldn't stop worrying about her.

"Hey," he said at the end of the night, taking her arm gently. "Hey, at least let me help you out, okay?" He thrust a thick wad of money into her hands and kissed her cheek. "Okay?"

"Reno…" she sighed, clutching the money tightly. "Thanks, yo. It does help. You're a good guy, you know."

"Yeah, you keep telling me so. Take care, Es."

"Come see me again before too long, Turk boy."