Reno jumped and took few steps backwards. It didn't occur to him to reach for his weapon until a few moments later but the other man didn't look like he was about to attack. Damn. He should have noticed him. He should have noticed him with his eyes closed and facing with his back turned. What is the point in being trained to sense people if you don't put it to good use?

Wha? Oh right, the other guy was talking. "Me? Yeah. Sure," Reno said. He was too tired to care really. But what he did notice strangely was that he was sure wearing an awful lot of belts. Surely they had to be joined together somehow? No one would want to struggle through putting them on all separately. And he has a scar on his face. Yay, not the only one!

Reno shook his head slightly. Must concentrate.

Hmph. He was reminding Reno of Cloud in all his angsting glory. Not another one. Any bets that he's a good guy that's had something terrible happen to him; had to save the world, horrible childhood, killed a friend by accident or a moment of madness. Blah. Blah. Blah. Everyone does something that they regret, had no choice but to do, or seemed like a good idea at the time. All you could do was move forward with your life and make sure you didn't do it again.

What on Hell?? Why was he getting all philosophical with himself?! Stop it! Reno scolded himself. Now was not the time to have a mental argument with someone who had what was (and he had to admit this) a pretty cool weapon that would most definately hurt. Although probably not as much as the Buster sword. That thing was huge!

Wait....was he suggesting to himself that he couldn't take this guy on? Probably not right at this moment. He was too sleepy.

It didn't help matters that Reno was utterly facinated by the number of belts the guy wore. How did he do it? And here was Reno still stuck with a stupid suit and a stupidly bright gummi ship.

Oh he was being offered help. Probably the 'i-want-you-outta-here-as-fast-as-possible-kind'. Well he was used to it. No one wanted a Turk around. Now he didn't even have the other Turks.

No Wallowing!

Why should he trust him? Duh...he needed help. This was how people got killed though yo. Well he had spared parts but none about heating... and he was sure he could fix it himself... but the parts.... Reno fought the urge to sigh.

"Who is he?" Reno had to ask. Knowing his luck it'd be Cid. Although a Reunion could be fuuuuunnnn.

(ooc: No problem. I'll think of something!)

Hm. The guy seemed reluctant to say more reminding him even more of Stife. If only his guys glowed a little then things would be like back home, just talking to a Soldier or another Turk. It made Reno sad to think of the friends he had been torn from and the world he had defended (once they had stopped trying to suck it dry for profit of course). But still, life goes on eh? In fact, the front he was having to put up so heavily was very draining. He was feeling sleepier and sleeper.

Cid. Good thing he was busy - but he always was - because he doubted he would have survived it. He didn't really feel like yelling back curses at the moment. Reno hoped Barret wasn't around. He definately wouldn't survive then.

A cold wind blasted both men yet Reno just continued blinking lazily, pondering the destruction. He didn't even feel it. Instead he continued to gaze at the rubble, the grey stone crumbling, the debris. Reno wondered vaguely if there were fireworks.

"This place go boom?" he asked. He so wanted to sleep.

Reno didn't trust him as far as he could throw the guy but made the unusual move of actually allowing himself to be lead towards the residential area. Surprisingly it wasn't the warmth that attracted him to the notion but rather the idea of being allowed to sit down somewhere that wasn't an obnoxiously bright and colourful cramped Gummi ship that had decided to break down in a random bit of space. Which begs the important question. Did Sephiroth feel cold? If he was going to destroy the planet and he supposed, go to another planet using theirs as a surf board would the atmosphere disappear? Or did he want to commit suicide by mass genocide? Reno couldn't recall nor did he particularly care. As long as the crazy fruit basket wasn't anywhere near him with that whoopass sword of his (which should be illegal due to his ridiculous size yo) he was perfectly happy.

This guy wasn't leading him somewhere to be slaughtered was he? Reno'd much rather go out with a bang you know? Fighting to the death - preferrabely with Rude by his side - but it wouldn't be all that awful if it was one of the other Turks, and only slightly disappointing and irritating if it was one of Avalanche. They say the've disbanded but everyone knew that wasn't true. Even Vincent had a phone now. And the meanies wouldn't give him the number! Has Choco-Boy's though. Mind you Vamp boy was likely to disembowl him with that claw of his.

Was he supposed to ask what happened? Is that what people did? But that would imply that he cared...

"What's your name?" Reno managed to say with his diminishing consciousness when they arrived. His limbs felt heavy, like lead had been poured into them, or wet sand. His eyelids just wanted to stick together. It was only when he stifled a yawn by pressing a fist to his mouth that he realised that he was a bit numb. He really hoped this dude wasn't going to turn out to be crazy or somthin'. But knowing reno's luck, he would be.

Leons eyes blinked as they moved toward Merlins swearing he had seen a black cloak..no, some sort of full Black leather coat. He knew that outfit all to well, the full coat covering with a hood down to a black boots. But Sora had destroyed the Organization, he knew this and the Keyblader had returned home with his friends. Or..so he hoped. The kid deserved some peace.

Shaking his head, he would check that out in a moment, one thing at a time as Reno looked like he was going to freeze.
"In here," he stated opening the door to Merlins, everyone at their own home on this rather cold day. Looking up after having opened the door to see the snow beginning to fall, the smile tiny to his lips as he remembered things long past. Selphie's love of Christmas and her massive parties.
"Your be warm in here."

Warm? It was warm in here? Sure the place looked cozy and all but who was to say that it wasn't some sugar coated trap? Reno found that he really didn't care. It wasn't cramped, brightly coloured and apparantly not freezing. It was quite homely too - books of various sizes were at one wall of brown's and reds. No bright fancy colours thank Gaia. It'd be wonderful if he didn't have to see yellow again for a very long time he'd be perfectly happy but it'd be all too soon before he saw it smattered all over that stupid stolen Gummi. Boy was he cranky when he was tired.

"Thanks," Reno replied. It sounded strange coming out of this mouth, he hardly ever said that word but it seemed appropriate. He did show up in the middle of nowhere and was being invited into a home. Can't say he was mad about the table though.

Soft. Definately going soft. Reno internally sighed wishing for the good old day with Rude and the others fighting nasties. Zack had been alive then too. Cissnei. She had been cute in her motherly stubborn way. Never underestimate Rekka. Much to young to die. Youngest ever Turk too. So many others that were killed because of the war with Wutai.

Reno's stubborness was running out. He sank to the floor leaning his back against a chair and closed his eyes.

Saix moved quickly through Radiant Garden, the cold didn't really affect him but he didn't enjoy the snow when it melted on him leaving him wet. As a nobody one would assume that Saix would just portal away, but he still had business in this world and he had promised himself that whenever he was in Radiant Garden to pay his respects to his late wife that he would not use his powers. it would be disrespectful for him to hurry his way along when visiting her.

Saix stopped at a store to buy flowers, he ignored the strange looks the shop keeper and other customers gave him as he payed for the flowers. Saix then went back the way he came heading for where he had buried his wife and unborn child. at the grave that only said: Tasha and my lovely baby. I will always love you.
Saix placed the flowers at the side of the grave and bowed his head, "I miss you Tasha. I really wish I could help you, I wish I could find your heartless and find a way to restore you to your human form" Saix shook his head as he rambled. He could spend hours talking to Tasha, and since he had a lot of time on his hands he sat himself down next to her grave.

Saix sat there telling Tasha about what he had been up to and about the Organization and things like that. Saix didn't care that he never got a reply, to him he was still talking to Tasha, even if she didn't reply, she heard.

Saix sighed standing up from tasha's grave. He had being there for a good ten minutes and he knew he would be wanted back at Never-was. he opened a portal, a smile gracing his lips as he looked at Tasha's grave. He then left.


(Sorry but I really couldn't think of anything else for him to do. He was a dead end)

Placing the cups of coffee on the table beside stacks of books and paper Leon shifted his shoulders in a slight roll. Kneeling beside the turk, "Don't fall asleep right here. You'll still freeze. I'll help you into a bed at least."

Grabbing the coffee from where he knelt he put it into Reno's hands, "Drink."
Steel eyes looking up to the door as it was knocked upon, cresses appearing over his nose. Who would it be? Merlin was off..well who knew what the old wizard was up to. Everyone else was at home as it was Sunday. He was the only one who ended up up and about on sundays, doing patrol, Aerith perhaps doing healing if it was needed.

Advancing on the door he opened it a peek taking in the shivering figure outside. Was everyone freezing to death? Hyne it was not even that cold outside yet! He'd like to see these people survive in the middle of December!
"Yes?" Leon spoke opening the door that tiny bit more so his facial features could be seen, he was still in full bombers jacket and gloves having not changed out.

The usage of we was not something he let go unheard and he raised a brow at what he spoke. He patiantly listened to the descriptions of the other's brothers, "I have not seen anyone like that here, at least in physical description. This world is of people who have had their worlds destroyed, refugees. Though they could be on any other world."
Harsh truth. But Leon was not usually one to dumb down the truth when he knew he had to say it.

Seeing the other shiver he let out a sigh of frustration and opened the door further, "Come inside, I have coffee on and at least the house is warm."

Damn people and their freezing, it was not even that cold yet! It was going to get a hell of alot colder by the middle of December. What would they do then? He was not someone to give charity all that easily, yes he worked on the town and helped the people of it. But he considered that his own personal repentance..

"This world is Radiant Garden."

The mug was warm against his hands as Reno tried not to let it fall to the floor. His half numb hands held the ceramic in a grip most likely in unnecessary tightness. The heat served to awaken his senses enough so sleep was not quite so imminent. The desire slip into a restful state, close his eyes and let the world turn black was still strong. Perhaps it would be better that way. There's no one here to miss him after all.

Make that random and depressed. No wonder the others stuffed me in a room with heaters in Winter. Reno had always thought they had been trying to get him out of the way for a while. Both could be true, he supposed.

There was a person at the door. The Ex-Turk only realised this because his foggy brain registered more than two voices and pale red hair. From what he did hear of the conversation, he summised that Leon was quite a lot like Cloud.

"Please. By-pass Atlantica. It's for your own good," Reno managed. He guessed they were talking about Planets at any rate. They did say Radiant Garden.

He had popped into Altantica and immediately left again. Too happy, too squeaky clean, too much dancing, too much music and far too much water. Mermaids. Talking fish. Too weird. That planet has to be one of the oddest he had encountered (or could imagine). Why were they so chipper? And who thought it would be a good idea to make him some sort of FISH?? A fish? why not a merman or a turtle at least? The ocean could only mean sharks and Reno sure wasn't staying around to be eaten (even if the place was more tolerable).

The coffee seemed to be working its magic, conjuring a little more strenght as time went passed. Reno thought back to the last time he had caffine and recalled the end results were not entirely pleasant for anyone. Even Rufus hadn't escaped his over active hyper behaviour which irritated Tseng and Rude to no end. Elena had screamed in his ears. Rude had to leave Healin, Tseng locked him in a room and Rufus threatened to dock his pay. His beautiful wonderful pay. Whatever would he do without it? Live in the streets like before obviuosly. No way was Reno going back there. He had clothes, shelter, money, and friends (whom he considered family - he didn't have anyone else anyway) and the freedom to blow stuff up every now and again with Rude's wonderful bombs. Oh how he missed the big, bald, serious, ear-pierced Turk.

Before Reno could sink further into nostalgia, he noticed the pale redhead flinch, clutch his head and plead for ...someone to....calm down? Great. Another crazy person. Exactly what he needed. Reno snorted. Like he could talk. He wasn't sure he wanted to ask but there was no way he could ignore this.

"You're lucky I like weird because I'd be leaving freezing or otherwise yo," Reno said. "Ya really gotta be careful 'bout that. Ya gonna share? Don't think I'll buy any excuses either zotto,"

Reno snorted again glad the coffee had brought him to a reasonable standard of awareness. Why did everyone think he was stupid just by looking at him? Oh yeah. Because he wanted them to. It was a serious pain when he actually wanted people to take him seriously.

"Like I believe that," Reno said amused. There was so many things wrong with what the kid just did. Taking a gulp of coffee and shaking his head Reno waited a moment before continuing. "Dude, that was bad yo. You expect people to fall for that?" he asked incredulously. Reno was sort of a professional actor. He did after all find himself in similar situations...sort of... fooling drug lords, gang leads, pretending to be one of them. Even managed to pull of sophisticated once or twice. Tseng and Rufus's face had been such a treat. Of course he behaved worse afterwards to rid himself of the feeling. It was better to be underestimated.

"You tell your headaches to calm down in a frightened beggin' voice a lot do ya?" Reno asked smirking. "And you relaxed before I said anythin' zotto so don't try it. You ain't tellin' the truth man." Reno looked directly at the pale redheaded male. He seemed to be having a rought time of it too but old habits do die hard. "So the cold messes you up? What's so bad about the rain anyways? Rain can be good. Good ol' fashioned healin' rain. I know someone that's quite handy with rain," Reno assumed it was Aerith. She was after all the last Cetra left in existance and left so many behind. It seemed like something she'd do - healing the Geostigma inflicted. It made him feel a little bad about kidnapping her. In the end she cured his boss and saved them from an extremely painful death.

There was no way he was talking to himself. No one spoke to themselves in such a fashion. His voice was too genuine, too raw for it to be true. Clearly he was convinced that would convince him so Reno let it slide, deciding to keep a careful, watchful eye on the lad.

Reno knew the guy was alright at lying - by his standards. To most people he'd be good, covered his tracks well. The second attempt at throwing him off was much better than the panicked first. His tells were clear as a bell though. Reno just nodded pretending that he believed him.

It was when Nero looked at Reno that he knew he was telling the truth. It was so tempting to teach the kid how to lie better. "Elemental. Cool," Reno said looking impressed. What is an Elemental? Wasn't that a monster? He didn't look like any Elemental he knew.

What the heck was a reptile? Did Gaia have reptiles? He didn't even have in inkling. Maybe it was one of those gaps in his knowledge that he'd rather not talk about. People got a little freaked when he told them the Turks were responsible for practically all of his education.


(ooc: can't remember any monster names from VII. know quite a few from VIII and X though :P)

Leon closed the door behind the other, for the cold did not bother him but he had two currently freezing people inside this house.

Hearing the talk of Atlantica he remembered Sora's one of many conversations of what worlds he had been to and his adventures on them. A world that they had arrived in that had been a great sea, filled with mermaids and talking sea animals. If he had not seen worse he would have been a little concerned for the Keybladers mental safety.

He stayed silent though finally taking off his bombers and his gloves watching as the newest red head grabbed his head in his hands almost pleading with..nothing? To calm down. he was not going to ask and moved back into the kitchen.

Consquently missing almost all of the resulting conversation between the two red heads. He came back with coffee for the elemental and sat down on a chair at the table.
"Elemental?" he listened to the other explain about them and shrugged. He had heard of stranger as he had stated to himself before.

Well if the kid wasn't perfectly normal now. (Probably 'cause he was tellin' the truth now). But Reno didn't particularly care. He cared for the encroaching headache he knew was just going to explode so the light burned his eyes and his head pounded like the time it was smashed against the pavement by a hooligan. Fun times. He didn't remember much afterwards - which he hated - and pestered Rude until he filled him in. He always hated that rubbish about being too ill and fragile to be told a single thing. It wasn't his first knock to the head and it wouldn't be the last. He always vaguely wondered if the next time something would be damaged but always forced it to the back of his mind. He'd deal with the consequences if and when they came.

The coffee had helped keep him awake and warmed him enough for him to realise that he couldn't really feel anything. The residual warmth from the mug burned his hands causing him to almost drop it as he hurriedly set it down. Reno was still so tired but his mind was awake thanks to the caffine. Stil wanting to sleep but not being able to made Reno a very cranky Ex Turk. More cranky and moody though, when he started to shiver violently.

Leon had finished his own coffee quickly it something he drank regularily, and set the cup back into the kitchen in the sink. Upon coming back out he watched Nero create the fire and throw the fire ball into the fireplace. His lips were opening but seeing the steadily raising rate of Nero's breaths and chest he shrugged. The other had not set the house afire at least.

A moment of watching Reno and he knelt down in front of the man who's eyes were oddly familiar, not in color but that strange sheen like glow.
"Reno," he spoke to make certain he had the red heads attention.
"You need to sleep, and also warm up. Their are some rooms here with beds that we used to use when living here. Their empty now. Would you let me help you to one?"

He had a slight lump. On his head. From the head smashing. There was a scar too or so the Doctor told him. He had awoken to white sterile walls, pristine and clean. A chair to the right as well as a window - it was closed. He was hot, much to hot but he only had the energy to blink a few times before a figure swam in his vision as he drifted back to sleep.

Now he was too cold. Worse than that, he was freezing, the chill seeping to his bones. He couldn't stop, why couldn't he stop shaking? He wanted to. He didn't want to display such weakness (at least the others aren't here to see this).Logically he knew it had to be warm for Leon demonstrated no sign of being cooler than he was confortable with. He was weak, just like his parents had told him over and over and over again. So no, he didn't want any help.

But Reno's body didn't agree. While his mind was determined to go solo it had failed to realise that his body couldn't comply with the task given. Managing to rise a little, his legs were still bent when they buckled sending him back down to the floor with a loud thud. The countless, endless sleepless nights had caught up with him in one swoop. Reno didn't like it but he eventually conceeded, if only, because he knew that he'd end up sore and aching from sleeping in his current position.

(If you could give me a little while to respond Nero, I never get in, in time to respond to this and it's making it so I hardly want to as i am being left behind and having to make lame excuses for Leon not being to hear half a conversation or such.)

Reno standing Leon had done so as well watching the red head cautiously, a swear left him which was not entirely in his vocabulary regularly, but in that moment it had slipped. Kneeling back down as the now Flare knelt down as well to check Reno's temperature. The black hair was noticed, if only out of the corner of his eye but getting Reno up off the ground into bed with as many blankets as possible was a little more important at that moment.

"Hyperthermia," Leon murmured and grunted his hand on Reno's shoulder, "I have to pick you up Reno, get you to a bed. Your body is probably shutting down from the cold."
Moving his arms into position to transfer the red headed turk, waiting to see if the other had a complaint before doing so.

-- Edited by LionHeart at 04:18, 2008-12-14

Reno felt someone touch his forehead and wondered vaguely what good that was going to do. Don't you do that for temperatures rather than for someone who is clearly freezing? It wasn't particularly difficult to tell you know. He was shivering pretty hard. Reno noticed a difference in hair colour. Two sets of dark rather than the one pale red that he was supposed to be seeing. Great. He was hallucinating now. Do you hallucinate when dying from the cold? Reno didn't know. Or it could be what Nero was hiding - a split personality thingy he could understand but a whole different person? No way. More likely hallucinating.

It wasn't the good kind either.

He was weak. So very weak. He wasn't good for anything. They were right. They were always right. Reno could barely lift the boxes his parents had wanted him too when he was a child. They yelled. If they weren't yelling, they weren't saying anything at all. It was as if he never existed. He was soo hungry. He was have done anything for a bit of food. Anything. Money was tight and nothing mattered as long as the adults were fed. What was it like to be full. Reno never knew. To this day he had never been a healthy weight. Always too thin but the Mako helped and so did the training. Thin and weak. That was him.

His eyes felt like they were gluing together and he'd need to pry them open with his fingers. If only he could be bothered moving. Reno's limbs felt like they were filled with wet sand, heavy, sluggish and useless. He wanted to move, to get there himself even if he had to crawl/drag himself but it wasn't to be so. He leaned against Leon. He was comfortable, warm and although he severely didn't want to admit it, safe. He had no idea why, but he felt like he could trust him. Perhaps it was his willingness to attempt to save someone he'd never met, knew nothing about other than they were freezing. Definately reminded him of Cloud.

Nero raced to the closet and grabbed as many blankets as he could and carried them to the room Leon had taken Reno to. He dumped them on the end of the bed, "Anything else?" He asked, unsure if it was enough for a human.

"They are fragile creatures Nero...Don't get your hopes up..." Flare said uncaringly.
"Flare....They aren't that fragile are they?"
"I don't know...they seem weak to me..."
"Everything is weak to you...."

Nero watched Leon as he tended to Reno, he tried to hide the curiosity from his face woundering how humans took care of each other in this kind of situation.

The batting hands and Leon took a step back from Reno, he respected others personal space, because he knew his own issues with people getting into his own. Espicially in situations like this where one was so vulnurable and open and the other almost dominating, in control. The shiver did not pass him though, as he did not know it was a full body shake, mistaking it for a shiver. He pulled the blankets up to Reno's neck.
"Just relax, I wont undress you any further. But you need to stay in these blankets if you want to be able to beat the cold."

He was at a disadvantage, fire had never been his element of choice. Ifrit was never a summon he used for large periods of time, many Guardian Forces could not work with others, espicially those that 'opposed' them. Shiva and Ifrit were completely opposite and had quite the scathing relationship. So Leon had Shiva junctioned at all times and another had Ifrit. So he himself because of Shiva did not feel the cold as easily but he could not warm up that easily either...

Taking the time to cocoon the man in the blankets he stood back looking to Nero, "Now we just keep an eye on him, make certain he is not getting worse. Their is not much else we can do until his bodies tempeture regulates."

Reno had been glad that Leon had backed off. He wasn't sure how he would have reacted had he continued. All that he knew was he didn't want to hurt him. There was no reason, no neccessity to do so. He was afraid. They could do anything to him and he wouldn't be able to do a thing. He was helpless and he hated it.

When the blankets were wrapped around him, many would view them as protective but not this man. Reno's mind reached back years away from the present. Dark....alone...pain...silence...hungry...arms holding him back....unable to move....dark....pain....trapped...silence...can't get out...silence...trapped...trapped...

Reno struggled to the best of his ability, making small noises at the back of his throat. he wasn't present in a cosy room with two people, on a planet far from his own. He was somewhere else entirely. He was in the Midgar slums, an old cupboard, a basement, being restrained by the enemy, captured and praying the others will find him - that they'll notice he isn't just late - being struck, gagged, unable to speak, painfully hungry, in pain. Reno was everywhere and anywhere but that room. He couldn't breath like this. He needed to get out.

-- Edited by Reno at 00:15, 2008-12-17

"Ahh...Flare, you are in control," Through Flare's eyes Nero watched Leon tending to Reno, "We can swap back no, while he is distracted!"
"No....He has noticed our change. It's too late to swap back..."
"Then what do we do?"
A visisble smirk touched Flare's pale lips for only a second before it disappeared, "Why, I am going to act like you, Nero."
".....Good luck, you'll need it"

Flare stepped forward, his mind quickly working through all it knew about Nero (which was a lot) so he could attempt to make every movement all the more real. Like Nero he attempted to rock on his heels but to no avail. Instead of body movement he decided focusing on Nero's general behaviour, maybe he could mimic that enough to fool Leon.
"What do you need me to do?" He asked trying to use the same kind and caring voice Nero did. In truth Flare wasn't as caring about others as Nero, he was a gaurdian, he was Nero's gaurdian and so his number one priority to protect had always been Nero. Nero looked out for others.

-- Edited by Flare&Nero at 21:00, 2008-12-17