Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Intervention ❯ Bar Room Blitz ( Chapter 6 )

Story title = Intervention

 

Story Description = Reno finally succumbs to the dark and destructive nature of his unstable emotions. When his bosses Tseng and Rufus do nothing & his partner and friend Rude stands in the wings and watches mutely, it's up to Elena to step in and save him from himself. (Post Game, Elena/Reno, Het, Yaoi, Drug & Alcohol abuse)

 

Author's Note = Characters may appear OOC. Tried to keep them as close to cannon as possible, but considering I'm writing this not the people at SquareEnix, you'll have to deal.

 

Disclaimers = I don't own the boys and girls of Final Fantasy 7, SquareEnix does.

 

 

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6 - Bar room Blitz

 

I'm reaching out for something
Touching nothing's all I ever do
Oh, I softly call you over
When you appear there's nothing left of you, aha

-- Ballroom Blitz by Sweet

 

 

Darkness had descended upon the city, the day having passed without Reno's knowing. At some point in time, he got so turned around he had no clue where he was or where he was going anymore. Just that he needed to keep going, to keep moving so that.. that what? Why what? He couldn't remember why he had to keep moving, or who or what was following him.

 

Hunched over with arms wrapped about his too-thin frame, the cold wind cut though him like a knife adding to the symphony of aches, pains, nausea and other problems. Blinking unfocused eyes, wet hair hanging in front of them with water dripping of the tips, he stopped moving forward. He swayed side to side like a drunk staggering out the door of a bar before taking a stumbling step forward once more. His eyes had managed to focus on something bright and colorful in the distance.

 

If he had been more coherent, he would have recognized the place as being one of the few bars where even being a Turk was no protection. Especially when said Turk was alone. The last few times anyone from ShinRa had ventured into this particular establishment, it was before Elena's time. And then it was all three Turks plus a squad of SOLDIERs. When they had left, the place was trashed and most of the people in there not in any shape to leave on their own two feet.

 

Practically falling the few steps to the bar's door then nearly falling though he staggered and stumbled as he collided with several other patrons on the way to the bar. Again by either luck or perhaps some bit of agility and grace, he pulled himself up onto a stool without falling off it completely. It took him several minutes to pull his wallet from his pants pocket and flip it open. Inside was a lot of gil. He didn't remember stopping and pulling money from his bank account via an automated teller either, perhaps it had always been there? Not caring, he pulled several hundred gil from it then clumsily stashed the wallet into a pocket then dropped his head onto the bar top. Reno was oblivious to the reaction his entrance caused.

 

The bartender stared at Reno in shock for several minutes. He had been working the last time the Turks had shown up. It had taken nearly half a year before he could walk without crutches. To say he was not one of the Turks (or ShinRa for that matter) biggest supporters. The bartender looked towards the occupants at the tables in the back, waiting. When he got the signal he nodded back before approaching the Turk. "Whadda'ya want?" he asked.

 

The redhead lifted a hand, waving in the general direction of the harder liquor on display behind the bar. When he managed to lift his aching head, his skin was pale making his fever bright eyes seem almost luminous in the dim light of the bar. He then pushed the gil across the bar. "Whatever I can get with this.... Keep it coming till I say stop," his voice was scratchy sounding. Hesitant and unsure as if he didn't know his own voice.

 

Again the bartender glanced towards the back before turning around to grab a dark bottle of liquid plus a shot glass. He put the bottle and the glass in front of the Turk, opened the bottle, then walked away.

 

Even as shaky as he was feeling, his aim when pouring his drink was rock solid steady. The problem was that had he been paying attention, he would have noticed the peculiar color of the liquid as well as the fact it was glowing slightly. He sat at the bar, right arm wrapped about his mid section, hunched over slightly as he grabbed the glass and tossed it back. It burned worse then Ifrit's fire down his throat before numbing it with ice straight from Shiva's heart. Grimacing he lay his head on his arm while he hacked and coughed. Not learning, he poured himself another glass, downing the contents in one shot then repeating the hacking and coughing from earlier. As he looked around, he had a hard time focusing his eyes. Everything wanted to twist and turn before blurring together. Closing his eyes only made the vertigo like sensation worse, yet leaving them open didn't help either. Minutes passed before his head felt clear enough to do anything, but by that time things started to go from bad to worse.

 

“Why if it isn't Reno of the Turks,” said a voice to the right. A voice that oozed malicious delight.

 

When Reno turned around, he almost fell off the stool in shock. “J..J-Jones?”

 

The man standing at the bar to his right was nothing spectacular to look at. In fact he looked quite ordinary. Dark brown hair cut in much the same style as Rufus's, shades covered eyes, a nice middle class outfit consisted of pants, a light colored dress shirt and knee length overcoat. But that wasn't what was shocking. No, what was shocking was when he lifted his shades. Replacing the man's right eye was a dull yet slightly glowing yellow materia orb. The scar that went from hairline to chin didn't help either. “I'm surprised you remember me Reno. It has been a few years now hasn't it?” The dull glow of the yellow materia brightened a moment. “Have another drink Reno, you look like you could use it.”

 

The redheaded Turk didn't even stop to think as he poured himself another glass then downed it, only coughing slightly this time.

 

“Good, good,” Jones said as he tapped the bar. Immediately a glass of fine scotch was placed before him. Picking up the glass he swirled it then took a sip. “So Reno, what brings you to my humble establishment?”

 

Reno didn't answer. Instead he looked down at the floor, a grimaced scowl graced his features. His stomach was starting to protest as was his head. All he wanted right now was to find a cold, dark corner and curl up in.

 

Jones let out a smirked bit of laugh. “What's the matter? Am I not good enough to talk to?”

 

“Fuck you,” Reno grated out as he slid off the stool, catching himself on the bar to keep from falling on his ass.

 

Jones laughed again. “Same as you were all those years ago. Still letting that behemoth ass over load your chicabo mouth.” He took another sip of his scotch before speaking again. The materia that replaced his right eye glowed once more. “Have another drink then tell me, are you alone?”

 

Like a good puppet, Reno poured himself another glass then drained it. “…No.." He swayed as deep vertigo suddenly gripped him. Twisting around he had to use both hands to hold onto the bar. A cold sweat broke out all over him, causing his skin to go cold and clammy. It felt like his heart would beat right out of his chest. “Wha…what's going on?” he was barely able to string more then three words together and have them make sense.

 

“Tell me Reno, have you ever had absinthe?”

 

The Turk shook his head, not able to understand what was being said. He was slowly loosing his grip on the bar, sliding sideways.

 

The materia-eyed man snapped his fingers. Several men got up and approached the pair. Each man grabbed one of Reno's arms before he fell and pulled him back away from the bar. He hung limp between them panting heavily, sweat running down his face as he kept swallowing convulsively.

 

Jones picked up the dark bottle and smiled. “You see this is absinthe, but with a twist. Loco Weed was used in the making of this brew. That must be why you look so confused at the moment. Or maybe it's from the Mako we added to it? Hmm… Hard to say isn't it?” He laughed as he swirled the bottles contents. “How about some more? What do you say?”

 

Reno was able to lift one hand slightly, middle finger raised indicating his opinion at the moment. “…. Fuck… you…” he got out between gasps as his abdomen felt like it tried to curl backwards and twist around his backbone.

 

“Boys,” Jones said motioning with a finger for someone to pull Reno's head up and back.

 

A third man joined the other two who were holding Reno up. Without a care for how rough he was being, the man grabbed a handful of damp red stands and yanked back viciously.

 

The redhead's eyes were shut tightly, lips parted as a pained gasp escaped him as it felt like his hair was being ripped from his head by the roots. When he felt the bottle pressed against his mouth, he clamped it shut refusing to open it.

 

“Reno…” it came as a warning, followed by a command. “Drink.”

 

He shook his head side to side as best he could, struggling feebly between the two men. The backwards kick earned him a punch to the kidneys, but instead of gasping, he inhaled sharply though his nose. Had he had his eyes open, he would have seen the yellow glow from Jones' materia eye brighten as he bent his will to the magic.

 

Jones was not pleased as his voice indicated. His voice was raised in command. “Drink!” Still Reno refused. “Looks like we get to do this the hard way then since you won't do it the easy way. Boys, make him wish he'd opened his fat fucking mouth for me.” Jones then perched himself on a stool to watch.

 

The two holding Reno stepped back, dragging the thin man with them before stepping to the side, holding his arms out to prevent him from getting away or falling to his knees.

 

“What we got here?” the man holding Reno's hair let go and grinned sadistically as he found both the backup gun and the EMR. He'd been on the receiving end of Reno's EMR on a couple occasions in the distant past. “What say we find out how he likes it, eh?” he tossed the gun to someone else. Taking a couple experimental swings with the EMR he grinned again. “Oh, this will be fun.” Drawing back he swung the baton like weapon from the side, like a bat, into the small of Reno's back. The tip of the weapon nailing the kidney area before the rest connected.

 

Reno grunted the first time he was hit, still refusing to open his mouth. Even drunk, injured, incoherent or just plain out of it, Reno has always been able to keep his cool in these type situations. It was only after he was hit hard the second and third time, in the gut quickly followed by one to his ribs, did he open his mouth. He gasped in pained sock, fighting to draw enough air into lungs that didn't want to work. He felt something give painfully with that last hit and suspected it was a rib or two. Bruised defiantly, cracked maybe, but not broken.. yet.

 

Jones smiled mockingly, holding up the dark bottle. "Care for that drink now?"

 

As much as he wanted to tell Jones to suck his dick, he was having a hard time forming a coherent sentence. Hell he couldn't even get out a few words. He was able to shake his head no though. It earned him another couple of strikes from his own weapon. Once more in the small of his back then to the back of his knees. He was dropped to the hard floor, his knees cracking against the stone floor as he let out a pained cry from where his teeth bit into the inside of his cheek. He tasted copper.

 

“Secure his arms and legs,” Jones said as he continued to sip his scotch and play with the dark bottle of tainted liquor. “It's time the bar closed isn't it?” he said as much as asked as he looked at the bartender, who nodded in response. “Time to say good night Reno,” Jones said with a cruel smirk then nodded.

 

Reno had only that moment of warning before he felt the sudden blow to the back of his head. He felt himself falling forward then nothing more as inky darkness swallowed his consciousness.

 

 

~*~!~*~!~*~

 

Not having slept well, Elena came in for her shift with a less than cheerful attitude. She looked around a moment then looked at Rude. “He never showed up for work did he?” she asked concern edging her voice.

 

The quiet man shook his head, not saying a word. There was a subtle slump to his normally squarely set shoulders along with an aura of unhappiness and worry about his person.

 

“Damn you Reno,” she muttered softly to herself as she went about setting up for her shift. “Where the hell are you?”