For the next few days Reno and Rude didn't talk to each other. Reno was still mad and Rude just didn't feel like talking. After a while however Reno got over his anger and started following Rude like a puppy again. Over the next few months the two became inseparable and did everything together outside of work, to Reno's dismay and Rude's indifference. Rude enjoyed the small portions of his day when Reno wasn't around to pester him with questions but he also welcomed them when he was around.
Rude worked at a shabby bar cleaning tables and carrying crates. It was a fairly easy job and Rude enjoyed it, until closing time. Then his boss would take him to his office for what he called Rude's 'bonus'. It happened almost everyday and Rude soon stopped crying after each encounter. He managed to hide his pain from Reno and his mom but when he was alone he would curl up on himself and wish he were dead. Rude never allowed his mother or Reno to visit him at work so that they wouldn't be associated with him to closely. He had to be especially careful that Reno never came by, he didn't want his boss to try and give him the same treatment. Rude tried to find other jobs but his boss wouldn't let him leave. Rude learned to take the varied ways his boss gave him his 'bonus' in silence. He knew it was wrong that he let his boss do anything to him, but his boss had threatened to hurt his mom if he didn't.
So over the next few years Rude accepted his fate with stony silence. He never learned to enjoy his punishment and he never tried. He simply allowed it to happen so that his mom would stay safe. He and Reno grew closer as friends and Rude was glad to have the obnoxious boy around, especially after some of the more painful encounters he had after work. Reno could brighten his day with no effort and Rude was glad he hadn't simply let him leave that day.
Reno always felt that there was something Rude wasn't telling him, but he often brushed the sensation off as nothing but his own imagination. He and Rude fell into an easy pattern of keeping things from each other while managing to share just about everything else. Reno kept his one night stands away from Rude and Rude kept his abuse from Reno. It seemed harmless at the time, but sadly, that was not the case.
"Yo whatcha doin' today?" Reno was lounged on his bed as Rude got dressed.
"Work." Rude kept his face natural as he buttoned his shirt.
"That sucks, I was thinkin' we could go ta the gym or somethin'. What time ya gettin' off?" Reno sighed as he picked imaginary fluff off his shirt.
"Same time as always Reno." Rude laced his shoes carefully, wincing slightly as he bent over. His boss hadn't been gentle with him the last time Rude got his 'bonus'.
"Later than I hoped you'd be home. Want me to come visit during lunch?" Reno knew the answer before he asked the question, but he always asked.
"No." Rude grunted as he walked out the door, Reno close behind.
"Mind if I tag along with you for awhile then? I gotta go see if my boss needs me." Reno knew his boss didn't have any work for him today, but he would swing by anyways.
"Fine." Rude walked slowly to try and keep the pain at bay.
"You alright?" Reno pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit up. Fay didn't like the habit so he could only smoke outside.
"Peachy." Rude hoped his boss would be in a better mood today.
They walked amiably for a while, Reno occasionally making obvious observations to Rude and Rude simply grunting or nodding when it was necessary.
When they parted Reno was less than happy about how his friend was acting. He had noted with unease that Rude was walking slow again today and he heard the small puffs of pain Rude would let out every now and again. He had seen Rude act this way before and Reno knew something had to be going on at work. He couldn't see how being the bus-boy would leave Rude in pain but he didn't really question it. He then turned to his original destination, the shop he worked at. His boss shooed him away without a second glance and Reno was left with a day to spend at his leisure. He figured he would visit Rude for lunch later, even though Rude didn't want him to. He knew his friend would be upset but he didn't care.
"You're late Rude." His boss' voice echoed from behind the bar.
"Sorry sir." Rude grabbed an apron from a peg near the door.
His boss pulled him to one side, "What was that?"
"Sorry sir." Rude repeated feebly as his boss' lips pressed against his ear.
"It's 'sorry Mr. Crowlman' Rude. I don't like this 'sir' nonsense." Rude felt his boss's hand run down his arm and he shuddered.
"Sorry Mr. Crowlman." Rude kept his eyes on the floor, trying to block out his boss' greedy hands.
"That's better." Crowlman shoved him into the kitchen. "Clean out the fridge, something in there's gone bad."
"Yes Mr. Crowlman." Rude had learned a long time ago to simply do as he was told without a complaint or second glance.
The rest of Rude's day went relatively smooth in comparison to the days before it. His boss had been angry for no apparent reason lately and Rude was usually his outlet for frustration. He was glad his boss' temperament was beginning to improve.
He was happy about it until noon that is. He heard Reno before he saw him and he almost snapped the broom he held in his hands as he heard his name called.
"Yo Rude! Got a minute?" Reno called across the bar.
Rude tensed as his boss head poked out of his office. He saw Reno walking up to Rude and the fear in Rude's eyes confirmed his suspicions that Reno was someone he cared about.
"Yo Rude! I know ya can hear me. Turn around or somethin'." Reno was behind him now and Rude straightened to face him.
"I told you not to visit me at work." Rude kept his voice calm.
"How often do I do what I'm told Rude?" Reno sat in an unoccupied chair.
"I'm working Reno." Rude continued sweeping.
"I can tell. When do you get off for lunch?" Reno twiddled his thumbs in his lap.
"An hour." Rude could see his boss moving towards them.
"Who's your friend Rude?" Crowlman sounded far more interested than Rude would have liked.
"I'm Reno. Pleased ta meet ya." Reno extended a hand and Rude shuddered as Crowlman shook it.
"How come I haven't seen you around before?" Rude could see the lust in Crowlman's eyes as he looked Reno over. It made him feel sick.
"I don't usually visit this part of the sector." Reno could tell this man was sizing him up like a piece of meat and he didn't like it. He could spot a pervert from a mile away and this man practically reeked libido.
"That's a shame." Rude could almost see the wheels turning inside Crowlman's head and he didn't like it. "I'm sure Rude would enjoy visits from his friends more often."
"I don't think so yo. I'm actually breakin' one of his rules right now." Rude tensed, Reno was making things bad for both of them and he didn't seem to notice.
Crowlman's eyes flashed in Rude's direction before he resumed staring with open desire at Reno. "Hmph. Rude has his reasons for not wanting you over here. At night this is a very dangerous part of the sector."
Reno doubted that it was any safer during the day with this man around. He suddenly felt he knew why Rude never wanted him to come by and he wished he hadn't. "Everythin' in the slums is dangerous." Reno crossed his arms over his chest, "I'll see ya 'round Rude. Gotta get back to work." Reno turned on his heel and left the dingy bar in a rush.
"Why did you keep this from me Rude?" Crowlman turned towards Rude and Rude suddenly wished with all his heart that the bar was crowded. Too bad Crowlman's beer was as bad as his attitude.
"You never asked Mr. Crowlman." Rude didn't meet the angry gaze of the man in front of him.
Crowlman ran a finger along Rude's jawline before grabbing his chin and forcing his head up. "How long have you know him Rude?"
"A few years." Rude averted his eyes from his boss' forceful gaze. He was just as tall as Crowlman now, but he was still scared to death of the man.
"You never felt the need to mention to me that you had a lover?" Crowlman ran one of his hands along Rude's collarbone.
"He's not my lover, he just my friend." Rude shuddered at the contact.
"Good. I don't think tonight is going to be a very profitable evening, do you?" Crowlman let his hungry fingers move down Rude's chest.
"You haven't had a customer in a few days." Rude tightened his grip on the broom.
"We're in agreement then. Close up the front and then come to my office." Crowlman let his fingers linger on Rude's chest before he turned and left.
Rude clenched his eyes shut and fought back tears. He was still in pain from the last time his boss had taken him and he didn't think he could take another dose of Crowlman's 'kindness'. He closed the front as slowly as he could and by the time he flipped the sign to read closed he had wasted an hour. He knew Crowlman wouldn't be happy about his lolly-gagging but he wasn't exactly eager to see his boss again.
When he entered the office his hands were shaking in fear but the rest of his body remained statue still and composed. Crowlman rounded the desk and stood in front of Rude. "You know what you need to do Rude." Rude nodded and knelt. Crowlman undid his pants and shoved his half-hard cock into Rude's mouth and Rude stayed still as he let him come in his mouth. He almost choked several times but that only served to make Crowlman go faster. By the time Crowlman was finished Rude's throat was rubbed raw and he was close to tears again. He didn't dare make a sound as Crowlman undid his pants and bent him over roughly. He did his best to ignore the small sensations his boss' hands sent through his body as Crowlman tried to get him hard. Rude just wanted this to be over and done with so he could go home. After a few more minutes of toying with him Crowlman entered him roughly and quickly spent himself inside him. Rude let a few tears of pain fall down his face as he felt his boss prepare himself for another round. He hoped Crowlman would slake his lust soon.
It took Crowlman another hour to completely satisfy himself. By the time he was done Rude wasn't able to stop the tears of pain that were rolling fat and wet down his face. He knew he was bleeding and he prepared himself for Crowlman's usual ending to their 'meetings'. He heard the whip slice the air before he felt it sting his back. Crowlman yelled obscenities at him as he tried to get Rude to respond with more than tears as he lashed his back and ass open. Rude didn't make a sound. It took several lashes for Crowlman to get sick of hitting him but Rude knew it only got worse after the whipping was over. He stayed in the same position crying silent tears as Crowlman laid into him with his fists, then a small knife. When Rude had lost enough blood that he was close to passing out Crowlman poured a strong potion over his back and forced another down Rude's throat. When he was done Rude looked good as new but felt like he was going to throw up.
"Next time you feel like hiding things from me Rude I want you to remember that I can get whatever I want and do whatever I want to whoever I want." Crowlman growled into Rude's ear as Rude re-dressed. "Next time it'll be your little red-head friend." Crowlman got up and Rude walked out of the office with tears still streaming down his face. The potions may have taken away the damage but they didn't remove the pain or the memories. Rude walked slowly back home, wiping his tears away as he went. He needed to show a strong face when he saw Reno. He had to force him to promise never to visit again. He wished Reno had listened to him before, then Crowlman would have less to hang over his head.
Only when he was sure that his face showed no signs of the tears and that his breathing was slow and regular did he enter the house. Reno was sitting against the wall near the door and his mom wasn't due to be home from work for another hour or more.
"You're home early." Reno looked angry and Rude thought he could figure out why.
"Bar closed early tonight." Rude gingerly sat down on the sofa in the small room.
"What the hell is that shit-head doing to ya Rude?" Reno's eyes were narrowed.
"Nothing." Rude lied easily. "Don't ever go to the bar again Reno. Understand me?"
"I saw how he talked to ya after he thought I left. I was watching through the window. I know a perv when I see one Rude and I also know that man was definitely not chattin' with ya about the weather yo." Reno folded his arms across his chest.
"You saw?" Rude gulped. He hadn't counted on that.
"I saw enough ta know." Reno stood up, his thin body barely able to keep his clothes in place.
Rude held his head in his hands and said nothing. Now that Reno had seen he had no excuses left.
"Come on yo how could you let him?" Reno said angrily as he stood in front of Rude. "You've gotta be twice as tough as this jack-ass yet ya let him hurt ya like this? It makes no sense yo!"
"He threatened to hurt mom. Now he's threatening to hurt you. You shouldn't have fucking come Reno." Rude kept his head down.
"Dammit Rude! Ya can get a job that's better'n that! Ya can get a boss that's better'n that! You're fucking eighteen Rude! Ya have a say in what the hell goes on with your life yo!" Reno sat beside Rude and threw a comforting arm around his shoulders.
"If I try to leave he'll get worse. You don't know him Reno, he's ruthless." Rude's composure slipped enough that a few tears slid out the corners of his eyes.
"Ya just need ta kick his ass and leave Rude. I'll help yo." Reno smiled at the thought. "I've been thinkin' about this anyways. Neither of us is gettin' paid much and what you're goin' through is somethin' no one should hafta go through. The only job that pays any kind of gil down here is bein' a thug for Corneo. I don't much like the idea but it seems like a better option than this. At least if you're one of Corneo's boys no one will mess with ya."
"Corneo?" Rude looked up. "Mom would hate us if we did that!"
"She'd get used ta the idea. She deserves better'n this too Rude. If we work for Corneo she won't hafta work as much. She'll have protection too yo." Reno rested his head on Rude's shoulder.
Rude thought it over quickly. He knew Reno was right, his mom did deserve better and being part of Corneo's crew was easy gil and simply being associated with Corneo made people think twice before they tried to mess with you.
"I don't think there's any alternative to it." Rude leaned his chin on one hand in a defeated manner.
"We'll head up ta Corneo's place tomorrow mornin'. Might hafta fight a few guys ta prove we can do it yo. Think you're up ta givin' out a good ass-whoopin'?" Reno smiled at the thought.
"Always." Rude smiled, Reno did always manage to make him feel better about everything.