"Come on, Ren...you fought off the guy who was trying to rape you. ..now fight. ..fight for your friends. .fight for Rennan. .but especially fight for the big guy"
There. There it was. The emergency elixer that Rude had made it a point to start carrying with him at all times since the start of the whole mess. He uncorked the bottle, holding it to Reno's lips. But when the redhead wouldn't take the offered drink, he tried to force the issue. "Drink it, Reno."
Elena shook her head as the ambulance pulled up, that pulse died to nothing beneath the dark skinned fingers. ..he had spent all he had in that last phoenix flame, even the energy needed to his vital functions going. ..
They were immediatly around the two, telling Rude he'd have to move aside. ..they needed to use traditional methods for getting his heart and breathing going again before any other healing methods would do any good.
Rude moved out of the way, his eyes never leaving Reno's face as the paramedics went about reviving him.
Finally. ..a soft inhale. .body thrashing as everything began working, but they soon had it under control. ..they offered to let Rude ride with the smaller man.
"I'll follow in the car, big guy. ..I'm going to go check on the boss real quick, make sure we don't need to have him transported as well."
Rude nodded. He didn't totally feel comfortable going, but he knew it would probably be best for Reno in the long run.
Elena strode over, kneeling next to Rufus "How are you doing? Do you need transported as well, or can you recover on your own?"
A shuddering gasp came from Rufus before he opened his mouth. "I... I will be all right. Tell them to go."
"Yes sir." She waved the ambulance off...her eye closing with a prayer of Gods speed for the two and for Ifrit to watch over the bearer of his essence.
Shion's body tensed once before he stood quickly, his eyes trying hard to focus as he tried to move as far away from his father and the ShinRa as he could.
Tseng simply let him go. ..for now. He wanted to do something about the rift, but there was little he COULD do right now.
'You have shamed me, Father,' Shion thought as he stumbled away. 'I will have my revenge. For my sake... and for Mother's...'
"I am not the one who brought you back. ..you can thank the one they just took away for that." Those were Tseng's final words as he gathered up his husband and carried him back toward the car.
Rude felt all of useless sitting in the ambulance with the paramedics and Reno. He didn't have more than basic first aid training, not that he would know what to do anyway. So he sat there, fumbling with his lighter until the paramedic had yelled at him to stop, lest he ignight the oxygen tank and blow them all sky high.
A soft, very soft moan. ..the lithe redhead was a fighter, for sure...he couldn't speak, but there was a soft smile beneath the mask. . .
Rude went to fiddling with his pack of cigarettes, but from the look the paramedic that had yelled at him about the lighter gave him, he figured it best to just sit still.
A hand reached out for Rude's, Reno's head shaking slowly as if he knew he was going to get chewed out for being careless.
Rude's eyes were wide, and he still felt all of about useless sitting back there,but he took the offered hand. He was slightly shocked to notice just how cold the redhead's skin was. Usually, Reno's body temperature was like an inferno.
Reno was shivering, even with the warming blanket one of them had laid over him. .he knew from how cold he wasand how scattered his thoughts were that he was deeply in shock,but for some reason, all he could feel was the elation of having done what he set out to do.
Rude's fingers tapped nervously against Reno's, his leg bouncing slightly with nervous energy.
Reno's eyes started to slide closed, but he gave a tiny thumbs up against Rude's hand as he passed out, a sign that he wasn't giving up easy.
Rude's nervous jitters continued all the way to the emergency room.
Reno just let them do what they had to as they wheeled him in, the only fight he gave was with the IV, that fear of needles had not abated one bit. HIs eyes clearly said "keep THAT away from ME"
"They need to put it in, Reno. Just... let them," Rude said, walking next to the gurney they had wheeled Reno in on.
He stilled, nodding slightly, keeping his hand tightly clutched to Rude's. ..seeming to draw strangth from him almost. ..even though his eyes squinted closed when the needle slid in.
Rude let his hand slip from Reno's as they wheeled him into the examination room, telling him they wouldn't have room for him in there as well.
Elena slid up behind him now, setting a hand on his shoulder. "He'll fight now. ..he has reason to. I also think he is more than a little proud of himself for saving the boss's life"
To say Rude jumped at Elena's touch would be an understatement. However, once his feet retouched the ground, he looked over at Elena and smiled.
Elena looked up as one of the doctors came out. She asked how bad the damages were, other than complete and utter depletion of his energy reserve, which is what had caused the near death.
"Check his mouth," Rude said softly.
The doctor looked the two straight in the eye "That was an extremely dangerous stunt, tapping into that portion of your energy reserve is a very dangerous business. It will take a day or so for his energy reserve to return to normal levels. ..he also bit his tongue during that siezure, which will take some time to heal, so he'll be doing a fair amount of writing and gesturing to get his point across Other than that and a bit of water in his lungs, he's in surprisingly good shape despite draining himself near dry."
A sigh of relief left Rude's mouth.
As Reno was wheeled by he gave Rude a weary looking thumbs up and an extremely contrite expression. ..he knew he was going to get ripped a new one for worrying the big guy that way, and he knew he deserved it.
Knowing that Reno was alive and going to be well, Rude went back towards the door, fully intending on having a cigarette or three to calm his nerves.
Elena was already out there with one of her own. ..she seemed to be thinking.
After a deep drag from the cigarette, Rude nodded towards the blonde girl.
"Kid's one of the strongest bastards I've ever met in my life." her voice was quiet. "But also one of the most foolhardy. ..at least this time it was for a good reason."
"Reckless," Rude grunted in between drags.
"Reckless. . .but normally out of a sense of loyalty...this time if he'd not been reckless Tseng would have lost spouse and son in one swoop. .and we would have lost not only the president but a dear friend."
Rude shook his head. He used to believe, when he was far younger, than the ends justified the means. Now, as he was getting older, he found that in many cases, the means were just as important, if not more so, than the ends.
"I think you love that kid a lot more than you realize you do right now. ..it's coming back...but I think you're scared of letting yourself love him that way again. ..because you're scared one day he's not going to bounce back from one of his reckless decisions."
"I think you've been reading too many psychology books again," Rude said offhandedly, no venom in his words.
"Maybe so, but I'm also right." she gave him a teasing grin.
"Don't need to rub it in."
She just chuckled. "He's not going to go down without a fight. .but if you keep holding back. ..he's eventually going to stop trying. .no pressure. ..just a friendly warning."
Rude didn't bother mentioning that he'd had more than his fill of 'friendly warnings' from Elena. She was not his mother.
Tseng meanwhile curled himself around Rufus. .the whole thing had left him more shaken than he realized.
"Anyway, you really should just let it happen. .." she tossed her cigarette away and walked in to check on Reno.
Rude rolled his eyes and grunted, lighting up another cigarette. His hands were just then slowing down their shaking.
Reno waved off-handedly as Elena strode in, he was still shivering. but he wasn't quite so pale.
"How you feeling?" she asked, pulling up one of the chairs in the room.
An exaggerated yawn and a shiver answered her question. before picking up the pad and pen. "Rude's gonna yell, isn't he?" he wrote.
"Once he stops shaking? Yeah."
"I know. .it was stupid.." his own hand still shook. "but when I saw the kid take him out. .I just couldn't not act."
"You're not alone in this, Reno," Elena sighed. "You need to remember that."
He nodded. "Didn't figure on anyone being prepared in the situation. ."
Elena's smile could light up the whole room. "We're Turks, you dork. We're always prepared."
"Hope the boss is ok. ." he looked thoughtful as he tapped the pen against his teeth.
"He will be. He's one tough cookie." Elena's eyes suddenly got a little cloudly. "It's Tseng I'm more worried about, though..."
"He was pretty shaken up. ..I woulda been too. .had it been Rude and Rennan layed out like that."
"I didn't even know it was that way in Wutai..." she said softly.
"Traditional bastards. .but worse. ..relationships like what Rude n' I have are outlawed there. . .punishable by death."
"And to have a child raised in that way of thinking..." she shuddered.
"Yeah.. .Yuffie's gonna change a lotta things when she comes ta power, but she's gonna hafta fight tooth n' nail ta get them to stick."
Elena just sighed. "I can't believe how strong Tseng's kid is, either..."
"Bushido training. .they raise 'em ta be."
Elena just shook her head. She still couldn't believe it all.
"The other big thing is that he's sleepin' with the kida the guy who basically destroyed Wutain culture as it once was."
"Change never comes easy..."
"Nope.."
Tseng appeared to be deep in thought as he kept himself curled around his love."
"Never..." Rufus groaned, trying to stretch but finding himself wrapped in a Tseng. "Never have I seen such a child in need of a good spanking..."
"you have my agreement, love. ..and he's mine . .though. .I did abandon him, he is right in that."
Rufus sighed. "He's still out there, isn't he?"
"He is. .you really frightened me. ..if Reno had not risked what he did. ." he shivered.
"The boy is too quick. His speed is uncanny," Rufus said, his tone wonderous. "And I would wager that his skill rivals even yours."
"It likely does. ..which is not a comforting thought. ..he hates Shinra and all it stands for"
"The boy is dangerous. And he must be dealt with."
"Understood sir. ..though I would prefer not to have to kill him."
"I hate to say it, Tseng, but if it comes down to it..." Rufus did honestly hate to say it, but it was true. The boy was tha threat to everything he had worked for.
Tseng nodded. "If it does. ..allow me to be the one to do so, it is all I ask."
"I cannot guarentee that... but I will try."
Meanwhile Reno's phone rang, he picked it up, to hear Tifa's voice. .. he handed it to Elena, indicating for her to find out what it was about.
"What's up, Tifa?" Elena asked, her smile transferring through her voice.
"Rennan's missing. . .I went to wake him up for school this morning, and his bed was empty."
"He's what?" Elena's shriek was sure to pull looks from Reno.
"He's just gone, his bed's been slept in. ..his window was open. .Denzel was injured, though, he wasn't able to tell me much of what happened."
"Denzel was injured how?" She had a really good idea as to just what was going on.
Reno gave her a look that said he knew it was bad and she better tell him.
"A dagger cut to the neck, it was good we keep potions in the house, he had the presence of mind to grab one."
"Fuck," Elena said softly. "Good to hear he's okay. Denzel says anything, call us, okay?"
"Will do. .whatever you do. ..tell Rude first, you know Reno will freak and do something dumb."
"You're telling me," she laughed nervously.
Elena as she hung up simply gave Reno a look that said "not now" before striding out to Rude. ..immediatly she told him what Tifa had told her. "I think Ren's got it pretty well figured out, but I think if we can get Rennan back before someone tells him, we might be able to keep them both safe"
Rude snorted. "Does Tseng know?"
"No, Tifa just now called, it should be our next stop."
"He'll want in on it." Rude was moving quickly towards where he figured Tseng would be: Rufus' hospital room.
Tseng looked up now. ."Yes, what is it, Rude?"
"Sir," he said, body going rigidly to attention as he stood. "Your son... has kidnapped Reno's. He injured Denzel in the process. Tifa just called us."
Tseng stood. "I assume Reno hs not been informed for his own safety?"
"Exactly, sir."
"Will you be allright alone, sir?"
"Send in Dark Nation," was Rufus' answer. He felt that, with his beloved cuahl, he was just as safe as he would be in Tseng's care.
Tseng sent in Dark Nation, and Livewire even trotted in behind her, a soft whimper coming from the male. ..despite that Rufus had chased him with a shotgun, the blond was Dark Nation's master, and that counted for something to him. he nuzzled Darkie gently and took his spot on the other side of the bed for a moment, then trotted into his own master's room, realizing leaving him unguarded was probably not wise.
Tseng fell into step next to Rude and Elena.
After a moment, Rude turned to Tseng. "If you don't mind, sir, I'd like to keep an eye on Reno. I'm sure he's aware that something's up, and it might be best if he was kept under constant watch."
"Understood. .." Then Tseng turned to see Livewire in the door of Reno's room, tugging a gowned figure back inside, one who struggled with what little strength he had to get free.
Rude could just roll his eyes. "Back in bed, Reno," he ordered, moving quickly to help out the cat.
He just glared but obeyed, his eyes clearly said he knew something was up. ..and there is only one thing it could be he mouthed "The bastard got Rennan, didn't he?"
"We're already taking care of it," Rude replied, pushing Reno down onto the bed.
He writes "If he hurts my kid, you are NOT going to be able to keep me in bed. . .You're outta your gourd."
"It's Tseng he wants... and the President." Rude pushed Reno into a prone position, indicating by touch alone that the redhead was NOT to get up unless he needed a trip to the little Turks room. And even then, he might be stuck with the bedpan.
But in his body language Rude would be able to read his worry, even if he knew that with Tseng and Elena Rennan was in good hands.
"When my papas get their hands on you, you are SO damn dead." Rennan growled at the little dark haired boy that had drug him from his bed, he had his father's temper for sure.
"Children shouldn't use language like that," Shion said softly, nearly dragging the smaller boy behind him.
"Children shouldn't kidnap other children in the middle of the night, either, asshole."
Shion's hand was quick, far too quick for Rennan to dodge the backhanded slap across his mouth. "I said, children shouldn't speak like that." He grabbed the boy's arm again, leading him closer to the edge of town.
Rennan stiffened, then his eyes grew narrow with fury. .he punched Shion in the arm with his free hand as hard as he possibly could.
Shion's grip tightened as he pulled the boy around in front of him, lifting him by the shirt collar. "I will kill you where you stand. Now cooperate."
"You kill me my papa will go all limit break on your ass. ..and trust me, you don't want that. ..I watched him kill the people who Mama sold me to when he rescued me."
"Your father is currently rotting away in a hospital bed with his lover worrying over him," Shion spat. "He does not worry me."
"You think that'll stop him. ..you don't know my papa."
"You think he will stop me, you don't know me," he snarled, jerking the child along again.
"If he doesn't come, your father and Auntie Elena will. . .you're dead, accept it."
"My father will not kill me. I'm his only son, his only heir... And he will keep all his people from doing the same."
"You'd think that, wouldn't you...heh, don't think father love goes that far."
"You could do the same listening to your own words," Shion said darkly, pulling the boy into an abandoned building.
"Papa wouldn't do a damn thing to hurt me, I know that too well."
"And what about Rudolph Urar?" The boy had done his research, it seemed.
"Papa Rude won't either, and I know more than you think I do."
"He seems to like putting little redheads in their place." Shion had already set out sufficient rope to keep the boy restrained.
"He's never hurt Papa. ..and I know what happened with Josh. ..and it turned out he was right to hurt the man, that man hurt both my papas."
Tseng in the meanwhile had begun following the little trail of clothing scraps Rennan had been surrepticiously leaving. he turned to Elena "That is one smart child."
"And now, until they arrive, I'm going to hurt you," Shion's tone and voice were dark as he trussed up the little redheaded boy.
"He's smart, but just as reckless as his father, sir," Elena huffed. Wow, that smoking thing was really starting to affect her lungs.
Rennan just glared at him, he refused to make any sound.
Shion's dagger was drawn quickly, and his wrist flicked delicately as he carefully cut the boy's nightshirt from him, leaving no marks on the pale skin beneath.
Rennan only glared at him, the kid was brave was for certain. .."I'm not afraid of you, you know."
The elder boy didn't say a word, only set about with the same care removing the boy's nightpants.
Tseng followed the clothing into a an unlit alleyway on the outskirts of the city. ..it ended there but he could hear the voices.
Rennan simply spit in Shion's face.
Shion sat back, his eyes darting over the smaller boy's form as he almost thoughtfully flipped his dagger around in his palm. "Where should I begin...?" he asked himself.
"fuck you." he simply said, his own form begins to grow hotter. ..like his father. ..his limit was a hair trigger. .but his was fire based. ..not very strong as yet, but there. ..it had first appeared 3 months before when his mother's boyfriend had hit him.
"Perhaps I should begin by teaching you the proper way to speak to your elders," he said, gesturing with his dagger at the boy's mouth.
Rennan smirked like his father would. ..the heat had loosened the ropes, and he suddenly swung up his hands, he had a tiny fireball cupped in his palms, he shoved it into Shion's face. "how about I teach you respect period?"
Shion had accidentally inhaled some of the flames, causing him to take a few steps back and cough. He recovered quickly, however, and snarled at the child. "I will not be defeated by a mere child!"
Rennan stood, running. ..he might not outrun Shion, but he had to try.
Tseng saw Rennan running toward them, and signaled Elena to grab him when he got close enough.
His movements were fast as he snatched the child back up, holding him under his arm like a football. "I will cut out your tongue and make you eat it."
Rennan was hot, his skin almost hot enough to burn someone who touched him. .."Don't you know those who don't learn from their mistakes. ." and he pumped a bit more of what he had left into it. "Get burned?"
"Don't make me kill you before your usefulness has ended," Shion hissed, his black eyes flashing with a blue tint.
"you'd like that, wouldn't you. .."
"Shut up!" Shion's voice cracked as he backhanded the little redhead full force.
"Go ahead, do your worst." He wiped the blood from his mouth.
"I will take you apart piece by piece!" Shion pounced on the boy, his dagger flashing as he made several shallow cuts along Rennan's skin.
Rennan winced then knowing they were near let out a loud, ringing scream to let them know precisely where he was.
A gauntlet covered fist connected with Rennan's mouth, and Shion could swear he heard a few teeth being knocked loose. "I said, keep your goddamn mouth SHUT"
Tseng nodded to Elena. "I believe that is our cue.
Rennan with a roar that one would think could not come from such a tiny form his limit went full tilt, his body seemingly surrounded by flame. ..yes. ..another similarity he and his father shared. .if you piss him off he goes full bore.
Shion's fury could nearly be seen in the pale aqua blue aura around his person. He scrambled off the tiny redhead, patting out the few flames that had stuck to him. Find, the idiot child wanted to play, he could play.
Rennan's own ice green eyes were narrowed and glittering with rage. ..he may be small, but he had a large reserve for so tiny a boy. ..and since Shion planned on killing him anyway, he might as well go out fighting.
The sound of the ocean drowned out all other sounds in Shion's head. He took a step towards Rennan, his foot leaving a trail of water behind it. "I. Will not. Lose."
Tseng motioned Elena forward as he slid into the battle. "Enough, Shion. .this child is not your target."
Shion's head turned quickly, his suddenly damp hair spraying little water droplets as he did so. "So, you've come for him, Father? ... Or was it me you came for?"
Tseng motions Elena to grab the child while he faces down his son. "I came for you. . ."
"And just what did you plan on doing?" His voice held an eerie, underwater sound to it.
"Ending the threat you pose. ..I'd prefer to do so without bloodshed, but it seems you are not willing. .." With that, Tseng closed his eyes. . .poking himself with one of his own daggers to trigger his limit. .. .his hair lifting in a wind that was magical in origin. ..
To his own eyes, Shion's movements seemed strangely slow, but in reality they were blindingly fast. He flung his arm out, hand moving past the still fiery Rennan and leaving a large wave of water in its wake. The boy's fires quenched, he turned back to his father. "It seems we are both reaching our breaking points, eh Father? Perhaps we shall see which of us deserves the family name more?" His words still seemed to be coming from underwater.
Elena grabbed Rennan and took off while the two fought.
Tseng began to rise off the ground, seeming to float on a cushion of air. "Yes, I think we shall."
"Will you kill me, Father?" Shion asked, his voice bubbling as his skin seemed to ooze water from it.
"If I must. ..if you do not give up your mad hatred for someone who is innocent of his father's crimes."
"There are no innocents! So said the Elders!" With an insanely fast wave of his hand, a tidal wave of water crashed towards Tseng.
Tseng floated above it and a blast of wind redirected the wave so it flew straight toward Shion fast and hard.
It was something the boy seemed to welcome, his arms spread like a messiah as the water moved around him, forming into a two story tall column.
While Shion was distracted he flung two daggers..one would strike him in each shoulder, pinning him to the wall of the building behind him.
Staying true to his training, Shion ignored the way the daggers cut into him, releasing the water from the colum in a circle around him, the water spiralling as it moved at a blinding speed towards Tseng... much like a very large tsunami.
Again he floated above the water on that cushion of wind, and sent a tornado toward his son. ..he was not wishing to kill, but to disable.
Pulling the daggers from him, he waved his hand at the tornadoes, filling them with liquid until they became waterspouts. With a loud roar, he directed them at his father.
Tseng felt the water from the one wash over him, knocking him back a good twenty or so feet as he hit a wall, but he stood back up, feeding a bolt spell into the other one, sending it back Shion's way as he stood dripping, holding his sprained shoulder.
As the electricity coursed through him, he clenched out the words, "My vengence will not be denied!"
Tseng once he was weakened cast a sleep spell. ..he was weakening, and he knew it, but he knew he had to subdue Shion before someone got badly hurt
"No! No! Leviath--" Shion's words were cut off as the spell took hold of him, dropping him to his knees.
Tseng picked up Shion, tying him up completely, carrying him back toward the hospital.
Elena's eyes were wide as all she could say was, "Sir?"
"Sleep spell. . .how is Rennan?"
Rennan had passed out somewhere along the line, but Elena would be able to feel his breathing was deep and even.
"Alive, and doing rather well, considering." Elena smiled.
Tseng came into Reno's room when he arrived, Elena behind him, the older redhead was rolled over on his side, sleeping. he had finally been sedated for his own safety.
Rude stood, his eyes asking about Rennan's condition.
"Alive, simply passed out. .. he should recover shortly, he fought well."