Reno set out to leave the loft he had shared with his mother the very next day. He began by selling a lot of the things he wouldn't need or couldn't carry with him. It took a few days and didn't get a lot of gil for what he had but he was in no position to push for more. What he couldn't sell he would simply leave behind. He wasn't really attached to the objects in the place, most of them had been there when they moved in. In the slums people rarely sold their homes and if they wanted to leave they simply did just that. Packed up and left their homes abandoned and unlocked for squatters like Reno and his mom and the hundreds of other people in need of shelter. If someone wanted to have a home in the slums they wouldn't have the gil to actually buy one so selling property was a fruitless endeavor.
Reno took the small amount of gil that he and his mother had saved in the jar and put it into his pocket. The only thing he to do now was find a place to lie low for a few days while the man from Shinra searched for him. He thought about just going to another abandoned home and living by himself but he dismissed the idea quickly. If he took another loft or apartment somewhere it was very likely that someone would notice and since Reno stuck out like a sore thumb with his bright red hair it wouldn't take long for Shinra to figure out where he was. The next thing he could think of was that maybe he could stay with the old man.
He left the loft taking a small backpack filled with what was left of his possessions and walked to the shop. Once he reached the door he knew something was wrong. No one was inside buying anything and the place was quiet to a degree almost never heard in the slums. He pushed the door open and found the old man sprawled on the floor and coated in blood. Reno didn't have to think hard to figure out who had killed him. He was sad that the old man had died though, despite the attitude he usually showed him he had actually liked him. Reno knew there was nothing he could do and went back to the loft. He would have to run and hide somewhere where no one would notice him. He knew sector seven had a lot of orphans running around, but he didn't know if he could make it all the way to sector seven with Shinra chasing him. He couldn't leave during the day when everyone around was probably put on the lookout for him but he knew the man would come back that night and he had to have a plan when he did. He racked his brains for an hour but he couldn't come up with any alternative plans.
He spent the rest of the evening looking at a map he had found in the trash and outlining and memorizing the various ways he could get to sector seven. When he had the maps details firmly secured in his brain he packed up his things and waited in his usual spot on the floor for the man to come and try to get him with a knife in his hand.
He was almost asleep when he heard the soft knock on the door. He sat up as fast as he could and yelled, "Whaddaya want?"
"It's me Reno. Please open the door." Reno hated the way the mans voice sounded like he was trying to console a wild animal. It plain pissed him off.
"Keep your pants on I'm comin'." Reno hid the knife in his pocket and opened the door.
"Good evening Reno. I see you're packed, does this mean you've accepted my offer?" The mans eyes had a glimmer of self-assuredness that made Reno even angrier. It was almost like the man didn't expect Reno to refuse. Boy was he going to be surprised.
"Nope. Sorry to disappoint but I ain't goin' to Shinra. I'm not gonna be a murderer like your lackeys. I'm not stupid yo, I know it was you that killed that old guy and you probably killed my mom too." Reno put his hand in his pocket and gripped the knife tightly.
The man stepped back a bit, shocked at Reno's refusal and accusation. "We didn't kill your mother Reno. As for the old man, he's been stealing from us for quite a while now, it's how he was able to sell things so cheaply here. We don't tolerate thievery. I am sorry you don't want to be a part of Shinra, but I'm afraid I have orders to take you with me, willing or not. I wish you had been willing Reno. You would have made things easier on everyone." The man cracked his knuckles as he spoke and Reno pulled the knife from his pocket.
"Touch me and I'll cut you a new hole to breathe from!" Reno's words held more confidence than he felt.
The man sighed. "Reno, I have several others positioned around this building. They all know what you look like, they all know what to do if they see you and you won't like what their orders are."
"I don't give a damn about your orders!" Reno lunged forward and stabbed the mans hand before opening the window and jumping out.
He landed in a pile of rubbish that he had carefully placed under the window to cushion his fall. He rolled to his feet and began running one of the routes he had planned for his escape. He heard a gunshot behind him and he threw his arms over his head and ran faster. He had known they would probably try to shoot him but he was still scared out of his mind. He had held out some hope that since he was only a kid they might take less aggressive measures to catch him but had known that it wasn't likely.
More shots fired over his head and Reno turned a corner as he saw two small darts embed into the brick wall in front of him. He ran into another man holding a dart gun and he shoved him over as hard as he could. He almost fell himself as he leapt out of the mans reach and tried to dodge more shots from behind him. He hurdled over piles of trash and knocked over as many cans of the stuff as he could. Then, as he turned a corner one of the darts finally hit him. It burned where it had struck his elbow and Reno ripped it out quickly to try and keep whatever fluid the darts were filled with out of his body.
He was able to stay ahead of the gunmen for quite a while. He made it out of sector five and was partway through sector six when another dart hit him in the side. He ripped this one out as well but no sooner had he removed the second one he was hit by a third and then a fourth. He stumbled slightly as the drugs started to take effect and he looked around for somewhere to hide as he ran. He finally found a small house and he ripped the door open and threw himself inside before slamming it shut, alarming the two people inside.
"Please, help!" He panted as he slumped to the ground.
He could hear a woman's panic-stricken voice and he felt someone grab him around the middle and drag him from in front of the door. He hoped that they weren't going to just throw him back outside and was relieved when he heard a voice say, "Hide him where we usually stick the runners." He didn't know why the people had a 'usual spot' to stick people but he guessed that he was not the first person to come charging into their house. The last thing he remembered before he blacked out was someone hauling him into a room and a voice saying, "You're freakin' heavy man!"
When he woke up he was propped against the wall of a small room. There was another person with him but it was dark enough that Reno couldn't make out anything detailed.
"You're lucky my mom's nice." The other boy, Reno could tell by the voice that it was a boy, sounded scornful.
"Yeah I guess I am yo. Thanks for helpin' me out." Reno's head swam. Whatever had been in those darts didn't want to leave his system just yet.
"You're welcome. Got a name?" As Reno's eyes adjusted to the darkness he could see that the boy was holding a knife much like Reno's as he crouched by the door.
"Reno, you?" Reno worked to get his head clear.
"Rude." Rude pressed his ear to the door. "I think they might be about done searching for you."
"I hope so. I don't want to go with those Shinra bastards." He started flexing his arms and legs, making sure everything was intact and still worked.
The other boy just grunted and Reno guessed that meant the other boy thought the same way about Shinra.
After a few more attempts at conversation on Reno's part they fell into silence. Reno got the impression that Rude didn't like him. He could understand why though, he had barged into his house and brought trouble with him. A few minutes passed before a small knock was heard on the door. Rude stood up and opened the door. Reno blinked as light flooded the room. The woman in the doorway stood over him and brushed the hair out of his eyes in a very motherly way. Reno could tell she was used to taking care of strangers.
"How do you feel?" she asked with a warm smile.
"Better. Thanks." Reno was briefly reminded of his own mother as she smiled kindly at him.
"Come into the kitchen and we'll get you something to eat okay?" Reno could tell she wasn't originally from the slums. She didn't use any slang or shorten her words at all.
Reno stood up and wobbled a little bit as he followed her into the small kitchen. After looking around he decided he liked the place, it was more like a home than the loft he had shared with his mom had been. The thought made him sad and he tried not to think about it.
"Do you know why they were after you?" She asked as she started making food. Rude sat next to him at the small table but didn't seem to share his mother's interest in why Reno was there.
"They wanted me to go into Shinra and work for 'em and I said no." Reno liked Rude's mom. She was nice.
"Not a smart idea." Rude rested his head on his folded hands.
"Probably not but I wasn't gonna go kill people yo. It's not right ya know?" Reno didn't know whether he liked Rude or not yet.
"You're brave for saying no. Most people don't live after doing that. You're just lucky you found us." Rude's mom set a plate of pancakes in front of both boys before making some for herself.
"Darn straight I am. My names Reno just so ya know." Reno took a bite of the pancakes. He hadn't had food like this in quite a while.
"It's nice to meet you Reno. I'm Fay and this is Rude." She sat down across from them and began to eat. "Where are your parents Reno?"
"My mom died a few days ago. That's why the guy said he wanted me to go to Shinra." Reno didn't know why he was simply telling her whatever she wanted to know, usually he was more secretive.
She got up and gave him a hug. Reno was surprised and didn't exactly know how to respond so he just let her hug him. "I'm sorry Reno. You're welcome to stay here if you like. We have a spare bed in Rude's room that you can use."
She let him go, "Thanks! That's really awesome of you. Most people wouldn't be this cool about helpin' someone out yo."
Rude got up and left the table. He was angry but Reno couldn't figure out why. He knew Rude didn't really like him but he was determined to change that. If he was going to stay it was best that everyone like him.
"I hope you and Rude can become good friends Reno. I think he needs one now that his brother is gone." Fay cleaned up her plate and Reno followed suit.
"What happened to him?" Reno asked as he helped her scrub the dishes clean. He liked talking to Fay and he owed her the help.
"Bobby got caught up in a gang fight a year ago and was shot in the head. He was dead before he hit the ground." She seemed about ready to cry and Reno decided it was best that he not ask about it again.
"Thanks again for letting me stay. It's really nice of ya." Reno knew why Rude was mad now, the spare bed must have been his brothers.
"It's no trouble at all Reno. You can go set up your stuff in Rude's room if you'd like. I can finish up here." Reno took the hint that she wanted to be alone and walked to the room Rude was in.
"Hey Rude. Thanks for the help yo. I know I don't deserve it and I hope I can pay you back for it someday." Reno set his pack on the floor.
Rude simply gestured at the empty bed before he left the room, "That one's yours."
Reno stared after the boy and promised himself that he would make Rude like him if it was the last thing he did.
Authors Note: Sorry it took so long for me to get this posted. I'll try to be quicker about it in the future. :)