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: A longer chapter … well, a lot had to happen. There is more smut, sort of. And … yeah. Just read it, you'll see.

Author's note: Okay, just a little bit more calm before the storm. Or maybe this is the storm, depending on how you see it. But I like this chapter, and I hope you guys do too!

Time seemed to pass quickly for Reno. He rose steadily in the Turk ranks, due mostly to the fact that when he was enjoying himself, he did very well. There could be no doubt that he was enjoying himself: he liked the life of secrecy and sneaking around. He was good at it. He also liked beating people up, especially if they really deserved it.

He was getting along well with Rude too, which was more than a little confusing to them both. Neither of them were friendly, but that seemed to be what sealed their friendship. They understood each other in some odd way, so much so that sometimes they didn't even need to communicate verbally. And they were certainly closer than Rude had ever been with any of his previous partners.

Reno didn't get many chances to go see Essie. He was very busy with Turk business, and when he wasn't, he was busy having fun up on the Plate. There were bars, restaurants, clubs, and girls everywhere. He had stopped whoring at ShinRa … there was no need for it anymore, what with his new and improved income and plenty of people who were willing to have sex with him with no money involved. Still, he found time to see Essie at least every few months to give her a good meal and some money. She was always grateful and happy to see him, but he could feel them growing apart. They no longer had much in common, and it was painful for him to watch her in a lifestyle that was eventually going to kill her. He told her so multiple times, trying to convince her to move up to the Plate, but she refused to go. Eventually he gave up and left her to her life, though he never stopped giving her money.

He had been a Turk for about a year and a half when he and Rude were assigned to an extended mission in Wutai requiring espionage, reconnaissance, and possible assassination. To say Reno was excited would be an understatement … he couldn't wait to go, to see a distant exotic land and meet different people and eat different food. He was a little nervous about leaving Essie alone for such a long time, but he pushed that worry away. She could take care of herself. Still, he was sure to take her out to an especially good dinner the night before he left so he could say goodbye.

"Wow, Wutai?" she asked between bites, staring at him in wonder. "How're you getting there?"

"Airship, boats. It'll be awesome." As usual, Reno spent most of the time just watching Essie eat and picking at his own food.

"You're excited?"

"Oh yeah. I can't wait. Rude and I are going to kick ass so hard."

Essie smiled widely, kicking lightly at his foot under the table. "I've still gotta meet him someday, yo. I can't believe you never introduced us."

"Well, he's a quiet guy," Reno explained. "And sorta shy, though he'd shoot me if he heard me say it. Not that he wouldn't like you, he just takes a while to warm up."

"He sounds like a good guy." She held up her drink. "To Reno and Rude, for luck in Wutai being badass Turks."

"Cheers!" Reno agreed, clinking his glass with hers and taking a long swallow. They had both had more than a little to drink, and the restaurant was starting to be happily fuzzy around the edges.

"Hey, Es," Reno said after a while, once they had made their way through a huge piece of chocolate cake.

"Yeah?"

"Come back to my place tonight. Just … come see what it's like up on the Plate. I'll get you back tomorrow. Please, yo?"

Essie yawned quietly behind her hand, blinking sleepily at him. "I guess I could. Least you'll have a nice bed, right?"

"Yeah, of course." He paid their bill and led her out and over to his car, the both of them leaning on the other to keep their balance. Essie giggled a little and reached down to take off her heels, dangling them in her hand as they walked along. Reno settled his hand warmly on her shoulder, noticing that she was several inches shorter than he was without the heels.

Miraculously, they made it back to Reno's apartment without causing many major accidents, though Reno thought he might have driven over a trash can. In any case, no one had been injured, there would be no lawsuits filed, and he even succeeded in parking and finding his house keys. Somehow, he also found Essie's lips, her hair, and the hooks to her bra.

She gasped against his mouth, surprised but not resistant. "Reno, what…"

"Es," he sighed, pulling her closer and breathing her in. "Sorry, I dunno…"

She stroked his hair, tilting his head until she could look into his eyes. "We're drunk…" she pointed out, slowly reaching around and petting his back beneath his shirt.

"Yeah," he agreed, maneuvering them over to the bedroom and lifting her shirt a little.

"You okay, yo?" Her lips tasted like lipstick and traced red smears over his pale skin.

"Yeah, how 'bout you?" He let her fall on top, hands settling lightly on her backside to press her close.

"I'm cool…" She peeled his clothes away with professional ease, tracing his melted-wax scars with gentle fingertips.

"Fuck," he moaned into her mouth, tangling one hand in her dark hair. "Es…"

"Shh, I'm here," she whispered, pulling her shirt off and putting his hands on her breasts. "C'mon, Reno, it's cool."

He rolled them, hovering over her and tracing the lines of her ribs with his fingers. "Es, just tell me…"

"Yeah?"

"Never mind." He bit lightly at her neck, exploring her gently with his fingers. Her legs were spreading beneath him, and there was still no resistance. He kissed all over her face, fingers still busy. Though she moaned and writhed, he couldn't help but wonder how much of it was Essie and how much was the whore…

"Shouldn't be like this," he muttered darkly, frowning as he kissed her.

"Ain't gonna get no better," she replied, pulling his hips closer again. "C'mon, Reno…"

He pushed in, still moaning into her mouth. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her skinny body arching against his, and she sighed contentedly. She held him tight as he moved, petting his hair just as she had when they were children in need of comfort.

He couldn't tell why it felt so different. He'd been with plenty of girls, but none of them had ever been like Essie, who was a prostitute and half-starving and so beautiful. He cared more about her than anyone else he could think of, and that felt natural. So it felt very different from most of the other sex he had.

When he finished at last, it was with a gasped sob that sounded like Essie's name. She kept holding him close, gently touching his hair and his face and kissing him so lightly he almost didn't feel it. He returned the feather-kisses and pulled out, shutting his eyes and keeping her close with every intention of sleeping.

But sleep didn't come. Even long after her breathing had evened out and she was limp in his arms, he could find no peace. He peeled himself away, smoothing the hair out of her eyes and making his way to the bathroom. He leaned over the sink, trying to pin down what exactly was troubling him.

"C'mon, you bastard," he muttered at his reflection. "What's wrong with you? You're no coward. She's just Essie … just Essie, yo."

He took a deep breath. The fact that she was just Essie seemed to make all the difference. With a hand that shook only a little bit he poured himself some water, drinking deeply before he headed back to bed. Essie hadn't moved, though her dark hair was tangled in her face again. He smiled a little and brushed it from her eyes before settling in to hold her close for the rest of the night.

Reno awoke the next morning when his alarm went off bright and early. He carefully got out of bed so as not to wake Essie, quickly getting ready for the day ahead. Still damp from his shower, he gathered up the clothes he had packed earlier and a few toiletries. He was eager to go, but for a different reason now. The sooner he left, the sooner he would be back, the sooner he could be back with Essie. He knew what he wanted now, he wanted the scent of her hair in his bed and her warm body pressed against him, he wanted to give her anything she could ever need.

He was eating a quick breakfast when she came out again, wearing one of his white button-downs and a pair of his boxers. She was still yawning and combing the hair out of her face, and he watched, thinking there was nothing more beautiful in the world.

"Hey, yo," she murmured, bending to kiss him on the cheek and sitting near him. "You sleep okay?"

"Yeah, I slept fine, Es," he replied, unable to stop smiling at her. "You look good in my underwear."

She blushed, pulling her hair around to start a braid. "They're comfy, yo."

"You want some coffee?" he asked, already getting up to pour her a cup. "I've got milk and sugar and stuff too…"

"Sure." She picked at the food remaining on his plate, watching him. "Last night was kinda fun, yo."

"Yeah," he agreed, bringing her mug back. "Hey, I'm sorry if I was … I didn't mean…"

"I know, Reno. It's all cool." She sipped at her coffee, smiling at him over the rim of the mug. "You're a real sweetie."

"I want to give you everything, Es," he admitted, leaning in passionately. "Everything, anything you've ever needed. I want you to come live with me."

Essie leaned over, giving him a light kiss. "I've got everything I want right here. You don't gotta do nothing."

"But I want to. And I'm gonna. Soon as I get back, okay? When I get back from Wutai, I'm gonna find you, and I'm gonna come take you away and you'll never have to worry about anything again." He pulled her into a deeper kiss, brushing at her hair.

"Reno…" she sighed, pressing against him, coffee forgotten.

He held her close, kissing her as much as he could. "I've gotta go, Es. Here's some money to get you back, okay? You gotta take good care of yourself while I'm gone. Promise me."

"I promise," she said quietly, combing her fingers through his hair. "Come back in one piece, Turk boy. I'll be waiting for you."

He kissed her once more, picked up his bags, and walked out of the apartment. Rude was going to have a fit when he heard…