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Love:: Misunderstanding
By : hachi-miitsu
Category: Kingdom Hearts > AU - Alternate Universe
Views: 1821 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: SEE FULL DISCLAIMER PLEASE
Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
It ain't over till Xemnas is singing 'I Feel Pretty' in 9 inch heels and fishnet. *Spoiler Alert* Heheheheh. Take that Mansex…. I MEAN….
Yeah. No. Read. Now.

Chapter 16: Meek Meets Mad Meets Malignant Part II
Vincent snapped his phone shut with a put-upon groan. Cid grunted next to him then propped himself up on his elbows. He scratched idly at the bit of stubble on his chin and scowled at the wall, his expression painfully awake despite the lateness of the hour. One hand groped at the nightstand until he found his cigarettes and lit up. Smoke crawled toward the ceiling and the only light in the room once Vincent's cell hibernated was the glowing ember between Cid's fingers.
Silence stretched between them until Vincent pulled the sheet over his shoulder and turned to face the older man. "You're not going to tell me not to go?"
"Why fuckin' bother", Cid grumped. He blew out a plume of shadow around his next words. "Not like you listen to me when you get a bug up your ass anyway." Red XIII lifted his head from the foot of the bed and turned to yowl at them. Cid whuffed out a sigh and patted the mattress between him and Vincent. He snubbed out his cigarette when the cat padded over to them. "Sorry baby, did we wake you?" Purring, the cat licked his chops then picked a delicate path over the rumpled bedcovers to head-butt the blond's hand. Blue eyes flicked over and away again when he caught his lover openly staring at him. Red curled up and Cid's fingers buried themselves in his fur. Thinner, paler ones joined in after a moment.
Vincent grinned at him, tickled to his core at the light pink that dusted Cid's nose and the way he cleared his throat.
"You just", Cid paused, groping for the right words as his scowl deepened with frustration. "You just be careful, you hear me?"
Vincent wiggled until his back was pressed against Cid's front, forcing Red to hop over his body with an indignant hiss and resettle on the nest of pillows above them. A grizzled arm threw itself over Vincent's waist, sensitive skin erupting in chills as golden hair brushed against Vincent's stomach. He felt lips curl into a lecherous grin on his shoulder when a fuzzy thigh shoved between his legs as well.
"No Cid. It's too late for that. And the kids are asl…eep—ngh!" His weak protests died a happy death. Raven hair rippled then fanned across the pillow when Vincent tossed his head and bit the blanket to muffle himself. Axel and Roxas were humping quite happily out in their living room anyways. And fuck it, he could get started in the morning. He might as well... might as well...douse himself in Cid before he had to jump into Hojo's inferno. Someone would be waiting for him to come back this time, that's all he needed.
He turned with a snarl and pinned Cid under him. Making a small noise of surprise, Cid's fingers clutched Vincent and were never still as they roved his stomach, lower back, the creamy lines of his long legs.
Vincent's thighs spread wide with a smirk as he shoved himself down on the older man's offering.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"Oh my God, Reno! Can you hear me?"
The redhead's breath hitched with pain. He cracked bleary eyes open and grinned despite the way it made his chapped lips flay open. "Hey", he rasped. "You're not supposed to be in here kid."
Shelke's lips pressed together as he dropped to his knees and cupped Reno's face with both hands. "Jesus, what have they done to you?"
"Mph!" Reno's arms strained from where they'd been stretched taut above and on either side of him. He bit back a shout of agony when Shelke yanked the dildo out of his body and tossed it to the side. The vile thing rattled around and traced a slimy circle into the cement.
Shelke bit his lip, brow crinkling in concern as he focused on his charge. "I'm sorry. But don't worry ok? I have a plan."
Reno hung his head, exhausted. His knees had been rubbed raw long ago from his position, yet he didn't feel them. He couldn't feel his arms either. He didn't feel anything anymore, at least not physically. They couldn't hurt him.
Ever since that night...had it really been weeks ago?... Reno threw himself into the battle for himself with renewed vigor. He was awake despite the bone deep exhaustion and soul corroding toxins that flooded his body. He was conscious and he was pissed.
Rude was gone. Reno had someone else to protect now. Maybe this was how epiphanies really came to a man—not with a lightning strike or religious miracles, but with a painfully obvious and simplistic statement that forces him to look at the ground at his feet instead of the distant horizon he has been searching for most of his life.
The thoughts sputtered and died when a hideous screech invaded the room. Kadaj lounged against the doorframe, a cancerous smirk curving his lips. "Well, well little mouse, what have we here?"
Shelke started and scooted away from Reno. "I...I w-was..."
Kadaj barked out a laugh. "Oh, Shelkie. You fucked up big this time. I know you know you're not supposed to be in here."
Shelke stood and brushed past Kadaj without looking at Reno again. The older male followed him with his eyes, tongue dragging in a lazy way over his lips. He glanced back with a smirk that chilled Reno's blood.
Kadaj didn't say a word, and Reno was helpless to stop him from following Shelke, even as he strained, reopening the chaffed, scabby skin on his wrists to bleed raw. "Don't", he choked, feeling an ugly sense of déjà vu. It was just like with Rude...only in slow motion. "Don't hurt him plea...se."
"Oh, I won't hurt him", Kadaj sneered. Aquamarine glittered with focused malice as Kadaj watched Reno the whole time he took slow backward steps into the hall. Reno hated him, because every thud of boot, every step he was taking away from Reno meant one closer to Shelke.
A maniacal grin curled his lips like a kid who was about to rip the wings off a bat, Kadaj raised both eyebrows in amusement when Reno threw himself hard at the other male, or at least he tried. The chains held him fast, even as he wrenched his arms to their breaking point. He heard his ligaments popping, could feel the burn in his bone about to come free, but none of that mattered.
Reno gave a strangled shout. The door was left ajar so he could hear...hear Shelke's surprised shout. "No…No!" The desperate cry morphed into threats, melted into pleas. The thump of blows, pained cries, and the terrible slap of skin on skin that he knew intimately.
His breathing turned shallow and his muscles quivered from the foreign strain. He hadn't struggled this hard when they were coming after him. Shelke, Shelke, Shelke...
It was an agonizing eternity as sounds dragged into wretched silence. He panted, feverish and dizzy, eyes trained on the open gap in his door. He didn't dare to blink. Finally, finally, the heavy suggestion of a body dragging over cement reached Reno. A few seconds passed and there he was, Shelke, bleeding, battered, unconscious, and half-naked but alive.
Reno swallowed a sob of relief as Kadaj tossed the boy in the room with a grunt. "Better make him comfortable, you slut. He isn't leaving again." Silver hair rippled when he threw back his head and roared with crazed laughter. "Oh wait, I forgot", he gestured at Reno's chains. "Oh well."
With that, he turned and shut the door behind him. Reno struggled and shouted for help until his throat bled. Finally forced to slump in defeat, Reno's body shook with fatigue while he watched Shelke with agonized patience and prayed with every shallow rise of the boy's chest that he'd open his eyes.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"Get the hell out."
Vincent's brows rose more in amusement than surprise. "Come on Ruffie, don't be like that."
"Don't 'come on Ruffie' me", the blond snapped. He jerked angry arms until his wheelchair turned to face the cheeky bastard who'd burst his way back into his life. "My answer is no. I've just gotten back on my feet—"
Vincent snorted at the irony.
"—changed my name, built a new life for myself. Don't ask me to risk it all again for some young pup I've never even met. He dug his own grave."
Vincent looked around and curled his lip, gesturing at their dingy surroundings as he said, "All this, huh? Are you really going to tell me you're satisfied with some piss-poor hole in the wall of a bar? Don't you want—"
"I don't want anything you're tryin' to sell, so stop right there. I'm content here. No one makes trouble and I can scrape enough to get by. Speakin' of which, I have to open in a few minutes so get your shit and get out."
Vincent straightened, his crimson eyes snapped like a flame. "You owe me, you pathetic asshole. You wouldn't even have 'all this' without me."
"I don't owe that much boy. And talkin' like that's no way to incur a favor is it?"
"Will you just listen? Damn you, I'm running out of time—"
Rufus was getting exasperated. "You saved my life, but what the hell can I do? I'm not—"
"Grow a fuckin pair Rufus. It's not you I'm asking to put your dick on the line here. I need your man power though. Me and Axel aren't enough."
Rufus made a rude gesture, his cheeks mottling an angry red. "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. My answer is still no. We got lucky once, but I'm not one to tempt fate. You brats are on your own."
Vincent leaned against the wall. Crossing his arms he said in a low voice, "Even if I were to tell you that I need this favor to help someone escape from the same assholes who took your legs?"
Rufus froze, his chair jolting with a metallic screech. He ran a hand down his face and mumbled into his palm. Vincent uncrossed his arms and stepped in front of the crippled man, bending so he could hear, bracing himself on Rufus's chair.
"He took everything from me."
Vincent scoffed. "Not everything."
Rufus's nostrils flared in protest. "Fine", he snapped, jerking his chair away from Vincent and wheeling it to the counter to make himself a drink. "I don't care anymore."
Vincent was silent as he clapped the man on the shoulder then walked out.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"He's not answering any of my calls or texts."
Axel yanked his baseball cap down and straightened the pizza box in his hand. "One thing at a time. Planning things like this can be rather hazardous."
"Oh, and an army of Pizza men is real conspicuous."
"Excuse the hell outta me, but you weren't doing much better on your own." He jerked his chin at the handful of men they'd borrowed from Rufus, and Larxene.
Axel did a double-take and hissed as he backpedaled. "What the hell are you doing here? Where's Demyx?"
She smirked and wiggled sinister fingers that she'd encased in a leather glove. "I bullied Demyx until he told me what you were planning. I knew something was up and I'm always down for a good brawl. Besides, I'd rather it be me here than him." She titled her chin up in challenge. "I'm worth two of him anyways."
Axel looked away from her with a sigh because he couldn't deny that fact. She was batshit insane and one of the best to have in your corner when you needed to do some heavy cleaning. But she was still a girl...
Shaking his head, he directed his attention back on Vincent with a droll look. "When we get home tonight I am so porking Roxas on your kitchen table."
Vincent smacked the back of Axel's spikey ponytail. "Fine. Just go. And be careful."
Then he disappeared into the shadows of the nearby warehouse.
"I hate it when you do that 'walk into the wind' crap", Axel muttered, then he turned to rap the door in front of them. The small group held a collective breath while the noise thrummed deep inside.
Vincent watched as Axel and the rest paused at the loading dock. It was a sloppy move for Hojo to stay in the same place since he tried to kill Vincent. Sloppy…or extremely fucking cocky. Deepground is what they called this warehouse.
Vincent's entire body coiled tight when the heavy door slid back with a rusty screech. They were received and….Vincent's brows shot into his headband. The bastards got in. Huh.
He stooped around one of the many crates stacked in front of the doors and sprinted towards the back area. Yeah, definitely cocky. Down at the wharf was a prime place to set up base. Business was good.
The cops weren't getting involved with Hojo's dealings any time soon because he ran the gauntlet between the Triads and Yakuza. Rumor had it that the Chief's own son had recently joined their ranks. Vincent shuddered. Deepground held many memories for him, none of which were pleasant and all of which he had yet to forget.
His boots scraped on gravel as he skidded to a stop near where he needed to enter. Guards milled around back in a loose circle, staying within the halo of the overhead light, a naked bulb, as they shared a cigarette amongst themselves. Someone popped his head out the door and called to them about food. All but two left.
Vincent exhaled slowly and reached up, scratched Red's ears to wake the cat up and uncurl from his neck. "You're up babe", he whispered. The cat licked his cheek then hopped off him before pausing for a luxuriant stretch.
Pawing carefully over the cracked asphalt, Red made his way up to the two remaining suits, arms clasped behind them, backs straight, expressions stern. Red sat in front of them and stared for a while before lifting one paw and grooming it with delicate swipes of his tongue. Vincent watched, tense. The cat finally got up and stepped closer to them, yowling like someone was stepping on his tail.
"Shut up", one of them snapped.
The other watcher was a girl. She huffed at him and bent down, stretching out her hand. "Don't mind him, kitty. Here boy, here." She rubbed her fingers and thumb together and made kissy noises.
The man unholstered his gun and took aim. He closed one eye then the crack of a bullet sounded. Red hopped back with a hiss and the woman rounded on her partner.
"What the….fuck….Cal? Cal?!"
He slid down the wall, painting a sticky trail from the hole in his head. She jumped to her feet and whipped out her piece, hands shaking. "Who's there", she shrieked into the darkness. She reached for her radio and punched the button on the side. " In-intruder..." She dropped it suddenly. Vincent smiled. She must be new if she was panicking too much to call for help, to call for help at all. "Come out with your han—"
Poor girl. She never stood a chance.
Vincent dragged their bodies out of the way and snuck in through the back, mindful of how much time he had. The cameras were watching the whole thing after all. And the real wave of pizza men were just joining the party.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Reno tensed, crouching over Shelke's cold body. He glanced up at the ceiling when dust drifted down like snow. His breathing hitched, hands gripping the ratty blanket he'd gotten from Kadaj and wrapping it more tightly around Shelke when the boy started to shiver. Pulling him close, Reno hissed, "Hang in there. Hang in there a little longer. Someone's…someone's coming. I think."
He and Shelke were the playthings of Hojo and his men now. Sometimes they were made to rut against each other, sometimes Reno got fucked while Shelke was felt up and made to watch. A dirty, filthy situation, it was nonetheless easier to handle now for some reason. The hope of rescue made his blood burn and his resolve strengthen. When the entire complex gave a mighty lurch, Reno snatched Shelke's body into his lap and held him tight.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"Your mouth is going to get us killed", Yazoo hissed in his brother's ear. Despite Loz being the taller of the two, he was a bumbling infant compared to his sibling.
"I was really hungry though", Loz whined. Yazoo snatched his ear and yanked it hard as the small army of pizza men trooped in.
"What is the meaning of this", a voice roared from outside the room. The next second, Hojo stormed in, face red, almost spitting with rage. "Who is responsible for this?"
When Loz shuffled his feet and tried to step forward he was stopped. Twin aquamarine darkened with pain, Yazoo jerked his head to keep his brother quiet then stepped forward. "It was me sir. The boys were getting hungry and I—"
The crack of a gun thundered in the open space. He flew through the air and landed with a heavy thud at Loz's feet. The elder male dropped to his knees and gathered Yazoo in his arms with a wounded growl despite his brother's weak, raspy protests.
"First mother...not you too. Not you too..." His grip tightened and he buried his face in Yazoo's neck. "Brother...I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Big...baby", Yazoo groaned and squeezed Loz's hand. "He just grazed me. I won't die from this."
"Yes", Hojo said. The two looked up to see their boss looming above them, his brows pinched together with distaste. "And you should count yourselves lucky that I am being so kind."
Loz nodded and swallowed, pulling his brother closer to him. "Thank you, sir."
"Hey now", a new voice said. Pushing the bill of his cap up, a redhead licked his lips and hefted one of the boxes. "There's no call for that. If this is about the money, don't worry about it. It's on the house. We know who you are."
Hojo turned to him, glasses flashing. "Oh...really."
The delivery boy smirked. Hojo squinted at the boy's angular face, at the tattoos beneath his eyes. "You", he whispered.
Kadaj sprinted into the room, gasping, "We got a problem!" He pulled up short when he saw his brothers on the floor.
Flipping the box lid open, Axel laughed. "I'd say that's a bit of an understatement."
The rest of his companions did the same, baring their own bombs to the light as they opened their jackets and drew guns with a flurry of clicks.
Hojo's men all tensed up and went for their own arms when their boss barked, "Don't move."
"Finally", Larxene hissed. "Can we beat shit up now?" She dropped her own pizza box and kicked it aside, making everybody freeze for a tense moment.
When nothing happened, Axel blew out a relieved breath and snarled, "Larx, dammit will you be—", He didn't get the chance to finish because the world exploded.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Deepground rocked on its foundations. Vincent kicked in door after door but he was getting frustrated. "Dammit Shelke...where are you?" He took another turn in the dungeon maze and paused when he heard muffled cries. Whipping out his gun, he shot the lock then wedged his fingers through the crack and hauled the door open.
"Help", a voice rasped. "Please help him..."
Vincent clapped on the light then cursed at what he saw.
A redhead was cowering over Shelke's unconscious body, trying to shield the boy with his own body like the invading light was something that could physically hurt them. Vincent bit the inside of his cheek then pointed his gun at their restraints. His arm jerked with each precise shot. Vincent shrugged out of his coat and wrapped it around the tattered blanket covering Shelke.
"Can you walk", he asked the man who looked a little like Axel.
"Reno", the guy licked his lips after speaking his own name. "And yeah...I think so."
"Then let's go. We don't have much time."
When they stumbled out into the hall—Vincent walking point since he was the only one with a weapon and Reno struggling to keep Shelke slung over his shoulder and walk at the same time—both heard muffled shouts and psychotic whoops from upstairs.
Vincent flinched. "Looks like Larxene's already started." He cut a glance over his shoulder and spit out a curse, grabbing Shelke from Reno's arms and slinging the boy over his shoulder. "Come on kid, there's only one speed. Mine."
Reno had enough strength to grumble about Vincent's shitty attitude and tucked his chin against his chest as he kicked his body into high gear. Heat was coming off the walls now, the fire was spreading faster than anticipated.
"Up, come on, up!"
"I'm going", Reno shot back. He stumbled up the last few steps and swallowed to smother the burn in his lungs. His muscles were trying to seize from the foreign work-out but he just had to keep moving.
"You aren't going anywhere pet."
Hojo strode from the shadows with a nonchalance belying his headquarters going up in flames around him.
"Duck", Vincent snarled, but didn't wait for his command to be followed. He shoved Reno out of the way and the muzzles of Quicksilver and Cerberus strained toward one another like sentient beasts.
"Bad move", Hojo sneered. "You won't leave here alive."
Vincent kept his face neutral as he thumbed the safety. "As long as I take your ass with me, that's just fine."
The wall behind Hojo shattered. He had barely enough time to dive out of the way before a beat up Volkswagen bus skidded to a halt where Hojo stood seconds before.
Yuffie popped her head out of the sunroof and placed two fingers to her mouth. An earsplitting whistle rent the air. Cid stuck his head out the driver-side window and hollered, "Get your asses in now."
Leon hauled the door open and reached both arms forward to help the first ones that dove toward the vehicle and club their enemies.
Vincent face-palmed then covered him as they got Reno and Shelke inside. He hauled open the second side door to allow everyone else to pile in while he squeezed off shots with his other hand. Axel cursed when Larxene wouldn't detach from the guy she was pummeling into the ground so he heaved her over his shoulder like a sack of flour and cussed up a storm that made Cid's ears pinken a shade. She was gnawing on his lower back so he turned and tore right into her thigh.
"Fucker, let me down", she shrieked.
"Guys let's go!"
Axel tossed her at Vincent then dove in himself. Vincent shut the door behind them and Cid didn't wait for the order before he peeled out with the sound of bullets pelting the back of his trusty rig.
They drove off into the night with Hojo's howls creating good feels in their hearts.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"You're all a bunch of snot-nosed little shits, you know that?"
Larxene bit into her drumstick with a blank stare. "Here Cid", she muttered around a mouthful. "Have some. Fried chicken heals all wounded prides."
Cid pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to ignore that." He gestured at the guys Vincent managed to enlist from Rufus. "I mean you guys I can understand. But you", Axel winced and shuffled so that he and Roxas were standing behind Larxene. "You guys are still in high school. You could have been hurt! And you", he rounded on Vincent, "You just let them!"
Vincent glowered back at Cid who was radiating heat in his anger. "Everyone, it's time to go home."
Larxene swiped the bucket of chicken off the counter—they'd all gathered in the kitchen—and tipped her head in a salute as she filed out with the rest of Rufus's guys. "See you tomorrow Ax."
He nodded at her then kneaded Roxas's nape with a goofy grin. The blond glanced up at him and tugged him towards the couch so they could go to sleep, too shaken that he almost lost him to punish him with the cold shoulder. Reno was tucked around Shelke on a futon they'd laid out on the floor. Both were fast asleep.
Cid snatched Vincent's arm and steered him into the bedroom. "Are you fucking kidding me", he exploded once they finally shut the door behind them.
Vincent bristled and shed his shirt as he walked across the room towards the bathroom. "I didn't let them Cid. Axel followed because he's a crazy little shit and I didn't try to stop him because it wouldn't have worked if I tried."
Cid massaged his temples and sank onto the mattress, shoulders hunched and head bowed. "I'm glad...you're ok."
Vincent paused in the doorway then turned and walked himself between Cid's legs, swathing the older man in a standing hug and enjoying the feeling of Cid's burly arms clinging to his waist. Golden stubble tickled Vincent's stomach. Pale hands cupped Cid's jaw and guided the man's face up.
"The hardest part of all this is that it's not over yet."
Cid scowled, his expression suddenly pained like he had indigestion. "The hardest part has yet to come", he agreed.
Together they took a deep breath, allowing themselves a selfish moment to enjoy this brittle illusion; to remain suspended in the universe they created for just the two of them between these four sacred walls.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"Shut up you two", Kadaj prowled the length of Yazoo's room and snarled, "Loz, next time I'll kill you myself."
Yazoo rasped in protest and tried to sit up. "Wasn't...his...fault..." He coughed and groaned when Loz bit his lip and dabbed his brother's forehead with a rag to cleanse the sweat away. They were all crowded into Kadaj's small apartment that they shared since Jenova's untimely demise. Yazoo was on the couch, ensconced in blankets and gauze that were already soaked through while Loz hovered over him like a fretful hen.
"And you", Kadaj snapped at the second eldest. "You need to stop bailing his ass out. This is why he never learns."
"Easy for you to say", Loz pouted. "You're the boss's favorite now."
"It's precisely that reason you boneheads are still alive. Count yourselves lucky I'm Hojo's favorite." He stormed from the room and slammed the door to their apartment. The younger siblings kept close to each other as the shadows of evening lengthened until they devoured the floor. Neither counted the minutes that lengthened to hours without Kadaj's presence. All either of them knew was when he finally came back—plastic bags crackling and stuffed to the brim with medicine and bandages in one, hot food in the other—Kadaj did all he did… for them.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"Up", Cid barked, planting a boot in Axel's backside.
The younger male snorted, choked, yelped, then promptly tumbled from the couch. Roxas sat up and rubbed one eye, expression tightening with crankiness.
"Get a move on shitheads. You're going to be late for school."
Roxas blinked once. He blinked twice. He flew up from the couch with a shriek and trampled Axel in his quest for first dibs on the bathroom.
Axel rolled over and grabbed his head then rose to his feet as well when Cid nudged him none-too-gently again with his other boot.
Morning punks taken care of, Cid turned to the latest additions of their retarded family and ran a hand down his face. "Since when did my place become a fucking flop-house", he muttered to himself.
Fingers descended on his ass with a sudden, sharp pinch that made him yelp and swat Vincent away. The younger man smirked up at him and gnawed his shoulder. "Thank you for this", he said.
"Don't thank me yet."
Vincent's smirk wavered, he stepped around Cid and headed into the kitchen. "I'll make breakfast."
"Axel, hurry up", Roxas hollered.
The redhead burst from the bathroom with toothbrush shoved firmly between his lips and one arm in his school jacket. He gulped the backwash and snatched his bag off the floor before he caught up with Roxas. Reaching up, the smaller boy tugged on the toothbrush and grimaced when Axel growled at him like a dog, grinning with clenched teeth. He relinquished it after a moment.
"Don't leave that here, nasty shit", Cid walked them out and swiped the toothbrush Roxas tried to set on the counter. He chucked it out after them then shut the door firmly behind him. Glancing over, he rubbed his stubble then popped a cig between his lips.
"Speaking of nasty shit", Vincent said from the kitchen. He wrinkled his nose when Cid responded with a grunt. He lit up and sucked in a deep drag before gesturing at their impromptu guests. "Should we wake 'em for chow?"
Vincent was quiet for so long while he chopped vegetables Cid thought he hadn't heard his question.
He was getting ready to ask again when Vincent murmured, "Let them sleep."
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Shelke awoke in a slow, deliberate way. He had time to thoroughly feel the ache in every muscle of his heavy body. "I dont know this ceiling", he mumbled after a moment. His pale forehead puckered with confusion as he tried to blink away the fuzz at the edges of his vision. He shifted and felt something constrict around his legs. For a brief moment, Shelke almost panicked. Then he recognized the foreign sensation as pants. Sweat pants to be exact. He wasn't wearing a shirt though. His eyes slipped shut and his fingers dragged up his stomach as he took stock of the situation. He almost screamed when a familiar voice shushed him and placed a cool rag on his head. "You need to rest", Reno said in that quite voice he was used to using now. Reno took Shelke's hand and led it to rest back at the boy's side.
]
It was hard to believe that once upon a time he was cocky, cynical, somewhat lazy and rather friendly bastard. It was hard to believe he used to be rebellious, with just a touch of sadism coloring his soul. That he used to be laid back.
Now Reno finally knew what all those old farts were talking about. Sometimes…a soul corrodes until there's nothing human left. Wounds fester, create monsters. And monsters devour all that you once were. His foolish strive for immortality, that nothing could ever touch him, hurt him, take from him in the worst way...that was all gone. The old ones really knew what they were talking about.
Reno swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and swiped the rag down Shelke's throat as the boy squirmed.
"W-we got ...we're ok", he gasped, like he wasn't quite able to grasp that they succeeded.
"Yeah", Reno grinned. "We made it kid."
"No thanks to me of course", Vincent muttered, choosing that moment to step in from the other room.
Shelke gulped, Reno helped him to sit up. Seeing Vincent, the boy kicked off the futon blanket and rushed to Vincent's open arms. The older man caught him mid-jump and swung him around before coming to a stop and returning the tight hug. They both laughed quietly when Vincent finally let him down to deliver a sound noogie. Vincent sensed Reno's glare and glanced up, giving him a tight-lipped smile over Shelke's head.
Reno looked away, not understanding why he suddenly felt as if he were intruding on a private moment, not recognizing the heavy ache in his chest as jealousy. Because that was ridiculous. Reno did not get jealous over kids.
Shelke cleared his throat, the sudden tension in the air making his skin prickle from the palpable chill. "R-Reno this is Vincent. Vincent, Reno."
"We've met", they bit out at the same time.
Shelke flushed. "Oh...well then."
"Are you hungry?" Vincent rumpled Shelke's hair again and the boy shrugged him off with a weak laugh as he swayed a little on his feet.
"You have no idea."
Vincent walked into the kitchen and Shelke made to follow when he felt eyes on his back. There was no threat though, just intent so strong it felt like fingertips brushing against his nape. He turned and met Reno's intense gaze, trying to douse the burn in his cheeks. "Are you coming?"
Reno shook his head and got to his feet. They were both emaciated, but Reno had pulled through the healthiest since Shelke was smaller and more fragile by design. "You go", he said. "I need to hop in the shower."
Shelke rubbed his arm like that would be enough to clear the layers of grime caked on his skin. "Yeah", he said. "That...sounds good."
When you're tortured alongside someone, you forge with them an unbreakable, terrible bond. Shelke and Reno stood facing one another, gaunt, wounded, but alive. The full weight of their connection draped heavy around their hearts like chains.
"Shelke, come on kid. Before it gets cold."
The boy shuffled into the kitchen and left Reno to gather his wits before he padded down the hall in the opposite direction.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
It was a few weeks later and Shelke was back on his feet. Reno remained his constant companion up until now because he was grateful, though always reticent. It would be time for him to leave soon, no matter how much he wanted to stay.
Reno glared at himself in the mirror, mumbled that his eyes used to be green…This wasn't his first shower since their escape but it didn't get any easier, having to face this soiled body where he could still feel the bruises, even if he couldn't see all of them anymore. He leaned forward and pulled his cheek down to get a better look at the strange color, an aquamarine that reminded him too much of Kadaj.
"They're called Mako eyes."
He jumped, turned, didn't bother covering himself. Shelke had already seen it all. Shelke came in and stepped closer to him. "You get them from overdosing on Mako."
"I didn't overdose", Reno snapped. "They fed me that shit."
Shelke put up his hands then placed one on Reno's tense elbow. "I'm sorry. I just thought you would want to know...why some things won't be the same as before."
"Nothing will be the same", Reno muttered, his voice hollow.
Shelke bowed his head and nodded, removing his hand. "I'm going out shopping with Vincent. We'll be back in a bit."
"You gonna let him fuck your ass too?" He thought Shelke wouldn't be able to hear him over the shower spray, but Shelke was a sharp kid. One of the reasons he was so good at fading into the background was his ability to listen.
When the hand returned and steered Reno so he faced Shelke again, the redhead bit his tongue to keep back a curse.
"What did you say?" Shelke's voice was tinged with hurt.
"Nothing", Reno snarled. "Just go."
"This doesn't look like nothing." Shelke massaged the muscle in Reno's jaw that jumped under his thumb. "Talk to me."
"I don't have to answer to you", Reno bristled.
"No. You don't. But I'd like you to feel like you can talk to me because we're friends…aren't we?"
Reno jerked his head back, out of Shelke's reach. "Go talk to Vincent. You two seem like real good friends."
Instead of lashing back at him like Reno expected, Shelke laughed. Loudly. It was the kind of sound that sent a shiver down his spine and made his cock jump. Shelke caught the motion in his peripheral, grinned, and met Reno's gaze again without an ounce of repulsion.
"Don't worry" Shelke said around another laugh. "We are, but he's like my brother. Besides, Cid would probably unman me if I ever went there."
Reno's face twisted into a childish pout because of how happy this made him. "Fine", he muttered. "Whatever."
Shelke's nose crinkled in a cute way. He tweaked Reno's arm before stepping back out the door, closing it behind him.
Reno shook his head and combed frustrated fingers through his hair as he turned and slid the glass door of the shower back with a rattle. Reaching up, he pulled the tie from his hair. The locks tumbled down his back to their full length, a defiance of his treatment. Hojo and the others liked to grab his hair, keep him in place. When they escaped, he almost cut it. But that would be giving them a victory. And that was something he couldn't allow so he kept it long.
He stepped one foot in when the bathroom door opened again.
"Shelke, I told you to g—"
He froze when he saw that it wasn't Shelke, but Cid.
Jaw tight with something that wasn't quite anger, Cid said in a low voice," I think it's time you leave."
Reno didn't ask why. He obediently set about shutting the water off and dressed himself in the clothes the older man threw at him. Cid watched him like one would a dangerous animal until he was out the door.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Shelke laughed when he and Vincent managed to shoulder the door open through sheer force of will around all the grocery bags. Vincent whuffed out a sigh of satisfaction when they unloaded the stuff in the kitchen. He scowled when he saw strands of blond poking over the chair in the living room. He walked in and came around the front, where Cid sat slumped, a tumbler of brandy cradled loosely in his calloused fingers.
"Are you alright", Vincent asked, because he knew that tired look.
"Where's Reno", Shelke asked, poking his head in the bathroom, out on the porch as he looked for him.
"Gone", Cid croaked.
Their youngest member whipped around. "Gone", Shelke rasped, expression tight with fear. "Did they...?"
Cid shook his head. "No. They didn't find us. I asked him to leave."
Shelke paled. "Wh-why?"
"What happened Cid", Vincent asked, voice firm.
Cid shot to his feet. "Did you see the tattoo on the back of his shoulder Vince? A fucking pyramid?! You brought a triad into my home?"
Shelke shrank back as Vincent's voice rose too. "You let me stay here don't you?"
"That's different", Cid bit out. "You're not one of them. Not anymore."
"And neither is he. He's as good as dead to his gang. You know that."
Cid shook his head, the lines at the corners of his mouth deepening. "No. I don't know that. All I know is that I already have two gangs in Japan fucking me raw. I don't need a third to join the mix. We can't win against them all."
Shelke winced and sank against the wall he'd backed against.
Vincent struggled with himself visibly for a moment, muscles clenching and unclenching. "Fine", he said. "He can't stay here."
"Then I won't either", Shelke cried. He balled his fists and smacked his temples, trying to dispel images of Reno lying face-first in a puddle of his own blood.
"Shut up."
"I'm going after him", Shelke said, even though his voice shook with near hysteria.
"Stop", Vincent snapped.
"You don't know what it's like to lose—!" Horrified, Shelke clapped a hand over his mouth.
Vincent's smile was as sharp as broken glass but his voice was soft. "Just listen. I wasn't finished. He can't stay here but there is someplace he can stay."
"Vin…I'm sorry."
Vincent waved his apology away but Shelke pushed forward, wringing his hands like the kid he was.
"I can't leave him alone. I get it now…this feeling. It's what you meant about doing something for someone you care about."
Vincent gave him a shit eating grin and clapped him on the shoulder. "Just as long as you get it."
The tension between them drained away as easily as it had always done but Shelke's lip still trembled as he scrambled to his feet and ran after Vincent out the door.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"You made this pretty easy punk. I can't believe you."
Reno kept his face blank as Kadaj got right in it.
"I mean, if I were you, I would've kept my tail between my legs. I would've hidden. But a good dog returns to it's masters." Kadaj smirked. "You got balls, I'll give you that. I'm gonna enjoy breakin' in that mouth of yours again." He swept his thumb over Reno's lips and snatched his hand back with a bark of laughter as the redhead bit and drew blood. "Hojo's mad as hell and we've missed you. All of us."
Sinister laughter floated around them. Reno forced his muscles to relax when a hand cupped his nape and…shook him awake. He blinked into cornflower that swam with tears.
"Ho-holy crap", Shelke choked.
The next thing Reno knew, he had an armful of distraught Shelke as the teen threw himself at the redhead.
"I c-can't believe we f-found you. I'm so glad."
Reno grunted around his injuries and wrapped the brat in a hug. Places of places, he ducked into a tight side street and curled up next to a backdoor, just out of the halo of the streetlamp. He only meant to rest there a moment, to try and make a plan, catch his second wind. Bad move on his part. He was more tired than he thought.
"Come on", Shelke said around gulps of air. The younger boy tugged Reno to his feet and led him over to where Vincent was standing at the mouth of the alley. "We've got to hurry."
Reno blinked dumbly down at their entangled fingers and allowed himself to be led as he stumbled after.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"Were you followed?"
"No", Vincent said.
Rufus rubbed his stubble and huffed, hand coming to rest against his mouth as he sucked in a tight breath against his palm. "Well….I don't see why not. I have a spare room upstairs but they'll have to share. It's the only one."
Vincent smirked at him. "See how much easier everything is when you say 'yes'?"
Rufus chuckled and shook his head. "Everything is much easier when you don't get any of my boys killed. But you managed to pull them through alright." He cut Vincent with a hard stare. "Be warned though. You owe me one now. And I will collect."
Vincent inclined his head then turned to his charges. "Just keep your heads low and you'll be fine. It'll be a while…a long while before the heat blows over but just be patient." He gave Reno a once over that made the redhead's body coil with offense. "And you better take care of him."
Reno's head jerked with a stiff nod. Vincent's smile turned warm when he glanced at Shelke. "I'll come back and see you soon kid."
Shelke nodded, expression serious like this was some sort of rite of passage. "You be careful too."
Vincent left with a wave he didn't bother to turn around for.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"Oh Shelkie." Kadaj glowered down at Vincent's retreating back then his gaze wandered to the sudden square of yellow that blazed to life across from him. "I found you, little mouse."
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Reno snorted himself awake and peeked out from under the arm he'd thrown over his eyes. He was on the floor, having given Shelke the only bed and wondered why he felt a warm spot against his nipple. Glancing down, he groaned.
Shelke was cuddled up tight against him. Reno ran a tired hand down his face and somehow managed to wiggle away without waking the boy. He got up and padded toward the window where a silver patch of moonlight lit the floor from the uncurtained windows. He glanced out and nodded at the square of darkness yawning open across the way. The telltale glitter of binoculars looked like teeth.
He raised one finger in signal to give him a minute and the binoculars retreated. They'd been followed. Of course they had. Vincent knew. And it was only a matter of time before Hojo's men came in to bust up the joint. He felt lucky they'd been given this much time.
There was only one option.
Mako eyes flicked over to his Electro-Mag that Rufus had somehow recovered for him. He gripped the familiar weight and swung it once, twice. His stomach clenched as the tip burst to life with a crackle of energy that'd be fatal if it connected with human flesh. He set it down. The drawer to the desk creaked when he pulled it out. A rustle of cloth.
He paused.
Glancing over his shoulder he breathed out a quiet sigh. Shelke was only rolling over. He hadn't awoken.
"You better take care of him."
Reno's hand shook as he scratched out a small note and wrapped it around the rod. He then tucked it into Shelke's hands and watched with a smile as they boy's fingers curled tightly around it while he frowned and murmured sleepily. He stayed there, knelt on his haunches for longer than he probably should've.
Eventually he did rise to his feet after brushing his fingers through Shelke's hair a final time and turned to leave.
His injuries made him rusty, or maybe it was just that when Shelke was concerned, his senses were soothed enough to be useless. Whatever it was, he couldn't stop his own weapon from cracking him in the back of the head.
Reno crumpled to the floor without making a sound and Shelke stood over him with an expression like he was about to cry. He shook his head though and stepped over Reno's body without an apology, stuffing the note into his pocket for later.
Hojo wouldn't kill him, but he would kill Reno. And Vincent needed someone on the inside. Someone invisible.
"You're the only one I can trust, the only one who can do this. We've got to bring his ass down once and for all and I need your help to do that."
Shelke trembled as he descended the stairs. Rufus was waiting for him at the bottom.
"You sure you want to do this kid?"
He nodded. Despite the looming punishment, despite his fear and loneliness he had to return.
Hojo would be merciful if he proved himself by coming back. His life was counting on it.
"What do you want me to tell that guy", Rufus jerked his thumb upstairs, "when he wakes up and finds you gone?"
"Tell him", Shelke paused. He'd never been one for sappy goodbyes. "Tell him whatever you need to to keep him away."
Rufus raised his shot glass in a solemn salute as Shelke stepped out the door.
Kadaj was waiting for him. He wrapped a hand so firmly around the boy's nape that the leather of his gloves creaked. "You made the right choice, little mouse. Come on."
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
Reno awoke feeling like his skull was being slowly cleaved in two. He rolled over and blinked hard, a gritty curse getting caught in his throat as he gave up and flopped on his stomach.
"W-where…", he croaked, then coughed as he breathed in a mouthful of dust.
"Gone", a voice growled above him. "The boy is gone."
His body's inhibitions momentarily forgotten, Reno shot up and tried to stand but only managed to topple onto the bed instead. He groaned and forced himself to scoot, to escape, to try and get up again so he could go after Shelke.
A hand on his chest stopped him. Another man was with Rufus and he helped Reno sit and placed a cup to his lips. He gulped down the cool water then sputtered when it was pulled away too fast.
"What the hell do you mean, he's gone?"
"Don't piss on the messenger", Rufus snapped. He pointed at his head. "Where do you think you got this from?"
Suddenly all the pieces fell into place. Reno paled and struggled once again when Rufus's wingman held him down.
"Get off me! I have to go!"
"Don't make me have him sit on you. I'm not above doing that."
Reno stilled at the humiliating thought.
Rufus sat back and nodded. "That's better. Now do you want to hear what I have to say or not?"
"Not really", Reno growled.
"Well shut up and listen anyways. Use your head and think. Watch, and listen, get yourself stronger and don't go in there again all half-cocked or you'll not only get yourself killed but him too. Wait for the right time to strike. It's the invisible ones that hit the hardest, because they're the ones you can't see coming."
Rufus felt rather proud of himself as Reno froze a moment, like the message was actually sinking in. But parts of him would never die. An instant later, he was fighting again.
Rufus sighed and cupped his forehead. "Okay Rayde. Do it."
Reno got knocked cold.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
His punishment had been swift, but there were no more rapes. Just as he'd been hoping, Hojo took his 'allegiance' in good faith and he was restored to his old status, much to Kadaj's chagrin. He was now back in his old apartment like nothing had ever happened. But he would never forget.
Reno's note was crumpled in his fist again, the paper yellowing, the ink fading from how often he took it out and read it, though he'd memorized each word long ago.
"We may be retreating, but we're still victorious."

So. Shat ending. Again. But I thought it was good. As always forgive any typos you may inevitably encounter. Coming up in this series we get back on track with Axel, Roxas, and Xion's shenanigans. A glimpse into Xion's and Axel's past too. x3 I had fun with that one. Also, after that we march into the more sinister side of the plans blooming between Xion and Marluxia. Get it? Blooming? Ha…haha…plant joke. Anywho~ Till next time!
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Love:: Misunderstanding	By : hachi-miitsu Category: Kingdom Hearts > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1821 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Love:: Misunderstanding