Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Outsider ❯ I Hate Everyone, Especially You ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: I Hate Everyone, Especially You

 

Reno liked a few of things about the military base. He liked the availability of the hot water in the showers and the constant flow of cool breeze from the air vents. Sadistically enough, the boy also liked the fact that most of the trainees were less literate than him. It made feel powerful and in full control. Sometimes he got annoyed at the SOLDIER cadets with their over enthusiasm and blind loyalty, but he never hated them. (Perhaps just one, but it was more like his rival at winning verbal battles than anything else.) Even so, he was nice to some of them. If there was anything that he hated was maybe two things: condescending adults and Veld.

 

The Turk training was never mixed in with the other sections; the mess hall and the after hours was the only time they mingled. Because of this, there was a major difference in the age gap. The cadets for SOLDIER and the Shinra army were generally younger men around his age group. Most of the trainees for the Turks were experienced mercenaries or men in their twenties or thirties. Reno was usually looked down upon by them, along with his trainers, just because of his age. A great majority of the time, some of the “would-be” Turks pushed Reno whenever they left or entered a room or even threatened to beat him up.

 

But this was all due to Reno's natural rebelliousness and tendency to be very defensive under a hostile situation. Had he not been the street-smart teen that he was, the mercenaries would have had their way with him. The boy had made sure he left an imprint of “Don't fucking mess with me” in their minds. This happened after the first week of physical training in the mess hall. Three men came over to the table he was sitting, and one of them grabbed his lunch and threw it in the trash. Reno immediately pounced on him and began to punch, bite, and claw at the man. When the other two came to his aid, the redhead merely jabbed the tallest in his groin, knocked down the other with his legs, and commenced to bang his head against the hard floor. Once Reno saw that the first guy getting up, he got up and kicked his face. It was a very bloody mess when the superiors managed to get through and stop the fight. The three men were expelled, but not because of their conduct, but because Veld had ordered them out. He ruled that these men were not cut out to be in the Turks due to their severe beating from an underweight minor.

 

Of course, Reno did receive punishment and a reprimand from both General Sephiroth, and Veld. The sentence was a lenient `sweep the mess hall for three days,' but Reno had to make the situation worse when he muttered, “I can't wait to be a Turk so you can be my fuckin' grunt” after Sephiroth spoke. Veld immediately decided that his food rations be halved and his physical activity doubled for an entire week be a better approach for the unruly boy. The General agreed, and Reno, in his mind, concluded that he loathed Veld.

 

Tseng was not very happy with Veld's decision when he heard about the news the following day.

 

“Mr. Veld, please reconsider your course of action.” Tseng had not seen the boy since Reno's rather daring goodbye.

 

“Tseng it was one thing that he, as they today, `owned' those three men, but it's another when he shows disrespect to his superiors.”

 

“It was just Sephiroth!”

 

“Only you, Tseng,” the elder snapped, “I know how you feel about the General, but that is no reason to condone that boy's rude comment. And I want you to control that temper of yours. Don't let your emotions get in the way of your judgment.”

 

“Yes sir,” replied Tseng almost sulking. “…But he's just a kid.”

 

Veld began to sign several papers and place them in manila folders. “Indeed he is. He's a kid who agreed to undergo adult training, and thus he shall be treated as one.”

 

“His condition-”

 

“His `condition' is no longer severe.”

 

Tseng inhaled deeply, trying to find a way to quell his anger and find a way to alleviate the punishment. “But you're not giving him an equal opportunity as the others.”

 

“That boy has already received a special diet for an entire month after years of bad nutrition, and yet he still managed to maul those three perfectly healthy men. I'd say that's about equal, if not more. No one else is getting that special attention with the exception of him. We're practically giving the young man an advantage.”

 

“I see your point,” lied the Wutanese. “I'll go prepare for the next SOLDIER scouting with Rude.”

 

The only good thing about the whole situation was that his bullies ceased to cause physical harm onto Reno, other than the occasional pushing, and that they made empty threats. At least this is what Reno mused as he stared at his half-portioned meal. `This is going to be one long week…'

 

“What up, red?”

 

“The name is Reno, fucktard,” he snapped.

 

“Chill man, I was only playing around.”

 

“Go play on the train tracks, Zack.”

 

The SOLDIER candidate from Gongaga sat next to the redhead. “Aww what's wrong, Reno? We used to be friends back when we were in the school.”

 

“Yeah if you consider being the same age as someone else as your friend.”

 

“Nah seriously, tell me.”

 

“Gimme your lunch and I'll you the honor of sitting next to me.”

 

“Sounds good. What'll get you to talk to me?”

 

“That chocolate bar you have in your pocket.”

 

“But I was saving that for later,” pouted Zack.

 

“Fine, but I won't talk to ya,” replied Reno nonchalantly.

 

Zack sat across from Reno and watched the redhead eat both lunches. “C'mon.” Reno only shook his head and finished his half-rationed meal, while heading for Zack's full meal. “Dude, you eat a lot.”

 

Reno shrugged and continued to eat. He was exceptionally good at the quiet game, and seeing the current situation, it was going to be an easy win.

 

“Okay, okay! You can have it!” he sighed in defeat and gave Reno the chocolate bar.

 

“Transaction complete,” Reno said while putting the candy in his pocket. “So whaddya want?”

 

“What's eatin' you?”

 

“My punishment, yo. Fuckin' Veld is making me double the work with half the food.”

 

“Ah I see… Well if you want, I can help you get a meal.” Reno looked at Zack indifferently with a slight twinge of don't-mess-with-me. “No seriously. The SOLDIER inauguration is tomorrow and well, I'm going to be in SOLDIER. So I get to have a lot of fringe benefits.”

 

Reno finished the last piece of bread. “And you're doing this for me, why?”

 

“I dunno. Seems like the nice thing to do.”

 

“Stop kissing my ass,” Reno rolled his eyes. “I'm still gonna treat you like the retarded newbie that you are when I become a Turk.”

 

“How are you so sure you'll be one?”

 

“This is one of the reasons why I want to smack your face with a shovel,” he said finishing his lunch. “One, you're retarded. Two, you're a bigger cocksucker than I am, and that's saying a lot. Three, an uber positive shit-faced attitude isn-”

 

“Err wait, this has nothing to do with you being a Turk,” said Zack in confusion.

 

“Oh yeah… anyway yeah, one, Veld hasn't kicked me out even after all that shit I did. Two, there's a guy that wants to bang me. The feeling's mutual, so dog won't eat dog.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I'm saying that the Wutai guy wants to see become a Turk. Geez you're so slow.”

 

“Tseng? So he's the one that discovered you?”

“Yeah. Better him than the bear with shades.”

 

“I didn't know that the Turks have animals,” Zack answered.

 

Reno stared at Zack as if he were the stupidest person in all of Midgar. “You know if it wasn't for this punishment, I'd kick your ass.”

 

“Aww c'mon. You know I was joking.”

 

“I'm not talkin' to you no more.”

 

Zack smiled and ruffled Reno's unruly red hair. “Double negatives equal a positive! So you mean you're going to talk me.”

 

“By that logic two wrongs make a right. So I should continue to curse you out and punch you.”

 

“Uh, I don't think it works that way.”

 

“Of course it does. See this is why I'm training to be in the Turks. I'm smart, and you're just… stupid.”

 

Zack smiled as he got up. “I like you too, Reno. I think you'll make a great Turk.”

 

“Whatever. Just don't get yourself shot for being so damn nice.”

 

“Kid, you say the darnest things. Must be that street thing in you.”

 

“I'm only tellin' ya what's really out there.”

 

“Okay, okay whatever you say.”

 

“Seriously, don't do anything that'll get ya killed. Oh and tell Angeal I said hi.”

 

“All right.”

 

Tseng was present at the SOLDIER inauguration the following day. He was secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of Reno while at the base. It had been about a month and a half since he saw the former prostitute; he couldn't get the kid out of his mind for some reason. Whenever he was doing menial tasks, the Turk thought about the idea of getting Reno, who would be at a lower rank, to do it. Yes, it seemed somewhat elitist and mean, but he was only human. In other instances during the more complicated missions, Tseng wished for an extra man to help, preferably someone smaller and faster, a criteria that Reno filled.

 

`Reno would make an excellent addition to the Turks,' Tseng mused as he watched Sephiroth shake Zack's hand.

 

It will be another month and a half until the completion of the Turk training. Tseng would just have to wait patiently until the time came to see Reno. Maybe then, the boy would less starved and more built, perhaps even be as developed as a young man his age would normally be. After seeing the medical records, Tseng only wished Reno would be obedient so he could take advantage of the food and the medical facilities available. Unfortunately, it was easier said than done. When the Wutanese found out about the backtalk incident, he was infuriated. Not only with Reno, but with himself. He felt embarrassed and upset on his behalf for even bringing in someone that would cause so much trouble. In a way, he supported the punishment that Veld had given him. Serves him right. He was only asking for it, he told himself. Yet there was this little voice in the back of his head that was worried about the boy.

 

He's just a kid. You weren't the perfect child at his age either, and it's not like he had the best childhood too. The boy's a walking stick! How dare you think a punishment like that is fair! You think a month of special dieting and vitamin supplements is going to compensate for the years of malnutrition? I thought I knew you Tseng, but you're just a brown nosing bitch. A bitch to ShinRa and especially a bitch to Veld.

 

Because of that, Tseng had lost all thought and confronted Veld about the punishment. It was something he thought he would never do. Out of all the people to defy, why Veld? Why the man who had given him a chance and taught him how to become the professional that he is today? And out of all the things in the world to cause this sudden outburst toward the man he greatly admired, why Reno? Reno was just an orphaned slum rat that prostituted himself, stole, and killed. He was just a kid, not even remotely close to Tseng's peer group.

 

`Reno is a dangerous person,' he thought. `I won't let him seduce me to personal ruin.'

 

And yet there still was that part of him that wanted to be seduced and be changed completely. Reno was a very intriguing person. Most people brought up in the same circumstances as him would usually be bitter or extremely depressed. Reno was as full of life as the redness of his hair. He didn't seem resentful or sad about his life. And of what Tseng could remember, Reno had once told him that the only thing he had left of his family was what they taught him. Perhaps their teachings and memories had given Reno a reason not to dwell on the past.

 

`It's all a matter of finding something to hold onto.'

 

There was also the case of his sexual attraction to the teen, but Tseng preferred not to think of those, especially at work. But whenever he did think of them, his fantasies ran wild. On several occasions, Tseng imagined Reno wearing a Turk uniform, bringing him a cup of fresh coffee with a very annoyed look on his face. After placing the cup on the table, the Wutanese would grab Reno and have his way with him on said table. Sometimes the background would change into a little more risqué like the men's room, the back of a car during an important and dangerous mission, and even Veld's office.

 

`Tseng looks hot in that suit,' thought Reno as he stole a glimpse of the ceremony. `I wonder if he can see me.'

 

“Don't you have a helicopter simulation test to go to?” asked a deep and jovial voice.

 

“Don't you have a mini-me to congratulate?” Reno parried without turning to look at source of the voice.

 

“I dunno, maybe I do. Truth be told, I don't like being in the same room as Veld.”

 

“Looks like you and I got more things in common than we thought, pops.”

 

“Gee son, I guess we do.”

 

“Ya know I'd tell you to go play in the train tracks, but your hard head would break the damn engine.”

 

“My, someone's being extra friendly today,” replied the man. “Is it because Zack's leaving you to go play with the big boys?”

 

“Bitch please.” Reno rolled his eyes and turned to see the man. “Angeal, you and I both know that I'll be playing with the cool kids in a couple of weeks. So why should I be jealous that Special Ed over there gets to eat the leftovers? …Mmm leftovers.”

 

Angeal was a First-class SOLDIER. Reno guessed that he was with ShinRa way before he was even born. The man looked like he was in his mid-forties, but as far as Reno knew, Angeal could have been a thirty-year old that aged terribly. The man was the exact same height as Reno, but his good posture and serious looking disposition made him look taller. He had short black hair yet several locks of his hair went below his neck. Angeal wasn't the most attractive man, but he was more pleasing to the eyes than Veld's bitter old face. Or at least that's what Reno thought. The SOLDIER chuckled.

 

“You're a glutton, you know that?”

 

“A what?”

 

“A glutton is a person that eats a lot.”

 

Reno shrugged. “Yeah well what can you do about it?”

 

“True, true. Hey you better get your scrawny ass to the test before you get in trouble.”

”Mreh, I'll just tell the guy that you stopped me on the way and gave me a speech about tuckin' my shirt or something.”

 

“All right, I'll cover for you.”

 

Before heading towards the vehicle simulation room, Reno took one last glance at the induction ceremony hoping to catch Tseng's eye. Veld caught sight of him, but the boy could care less. And with that, Reno headed off to the corresponding room having no feelings of anger or regret, but experiencing a stomach filled with butterflies and the satisfaction of seeing Tseng once more.

 

----

 

The following weeks passed by, and soon it was time for Heidegger and Veld to choose who would join the Turks. Heidegger flippantly tossed the papers and immediately picked the candidate with the best marks, a candidate that was not Reno. Veld, however, went into his office and reviewed the people carefully, taking his time with the decision. The man that Heidegger “wanted” was a very good choice, but the leader was very doubtful with this offhanded choice. There was no way that Reno was going to join the Turks if Heidegger's vote was against him.

 

Reno was in the mess hall having a staring contest with a new recruit for SOLDIER. The boy was boring, he had to admit, but he seemed okay compared to the other guys. This kid seemed lonely, something that Reno hated to see, so he decided to keep him company. In comparison, the redhead was a bit taller and skinnier than the cadet, but he was only two years older. Reno had messy red hair, while the kid had extremely unruly and spiky blonde hair. It reminded him of chocobo, except that chocobos were happy and frolicked. At least that's what his kindergarten teacher told him.

 

“Yo Cloud, blink already.”

 

“Huh?” Cloud was not even aware that Reno declared a staring contest.

 

“Staring contest.”

 

“Er, why?”

 

“Because everyone else that's tryin' out for SOLDIER are a bunch of dickheads, and you're the only one that had the honor of catching my attention.”

 

“Thank you?”

 

Reno blinked and wiped his eyes. “Damn that burned. Nah, I'm only playing about the honor part, but I did mean it about the dickhead parts. Fuckin' jocks.”

 

“Cadet, I'd like to speak to Reno.”

 

“Yes sir,” answered Cloud, gathering his tray and left to sit at another empty table.

 

“Are you fucking proud of yourself?” asked Reno glaring up at Veld. “Now the kid's gonna be all alone.”

 

Veld stared back coldly. “I suggest you shut up and listen to what I have to say. Now get up. This matter is rather delicate.”

 

“Fine.”

 

“Reno, you are how old again?” he asked walking out of the mess hall. He turned around to make sure that no one else was following them and continued his stroll towards the track grounds.

 

“Sixteen.”

 

“You're quite young, but by the way I see it, it just makes you even more qualified to be a Turk.”

 

“Whaddya trying to say?”

 

“You see Reno, you have made a lot of progress. And considering your age, it's very impressive. Most boys your age usually do poorly. Your combatant skills are a wee bit lacking, but it's not bad. And if you continue to train while doing field work as a Turk, your skills will be top notch.”

 

Reno stopped and looked at Veld's back. “Wait, what the hell are you getting at? Are you saying I'm in?”

 

“No. I'm saying that you have a lot of potential.”

 

“I see…”

 

Veld smirked and tucked a lock of his hair behind his ear. “Do they tell you the scores?”

 

“What?”

 

“The scores. Do the instructors tell you the other students' scores?”

 

“No.”

 

“What about examples? Do they make examples or laud certain candidates?”

 

“In English, por favor.”

 

“Is there a certain person that your teachers praise a lot?”

 

Reno grinned. “No Mr. Veld. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take a shower.”

 

Veld didn't turn around to see Reno leave, but he swore he could hear the malicious grin on the redhead's face. No worries, though. He was quite certain that Reno was smart enough to figure out what he was telling him. If not, well at least the most qualified person would enter the Turks.

 

The ex-whore went into the bathroom and opened the supply closet. He took out two boxes of soap and went back to his cabin. Reno then removed both his socks and placed a bar of soap in each. After seeing what he did, he hid the socks under his pillow and left his bunk. Later that night, Reno grabbed more socks and reached for his two handmade weapons. Quietly, he approached the bed of the man he suspected Veld was talking about. Even if he were wrong, he didn't care. Reno wouldn't hesitate to beat a woman either, but lucky for everyone there were no women in this session of the Turk recruitment.

 

`Whatever it takes me to get ahead,' he thought as he carefully tied the man's feet, legs and hands together with a few socks. He tied another sock around the mouth without waking him up. `Sorry dude, but a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do. There's no way in hell I'm going back to that shit hole.'

 

He proceeded to beat the man with both soap socks, in his face, stomach, everywhere. Of course the man began to scream in pain, but the thick sock muffled most of the noise and Reno was smart enough to knock the soaps into his head so he'd pass out quicker.

 

 

“Welcome to the Turks, Reno,” said Veld, two days later

 

“Thanks,” said Reno, wearing the Turk uniform. He shook Veld's hand. “It's too bad about that other guy.”

 

“It doesn't matter. I found you more qualified anyway,” replied Veld.

 

“This ain't changing a thing.”

 

“I'm well aware of that. I just happen to have an eye for talent.”

 

“Congratulations Reno.”

 

“Yo Tseng.”

 

“Ah, I'm glad you're here, Tseng” said Veld. “I want you to take Reno to the apartment that he was issued.”

 

“Yes Mr. Veld.”

 

Reno grinned, “I'll behave Veld.”

 

Veld rolled his eyes. “Just go. Tseng will tell you everything you need to know before you come to work. Here. This folder is for you. I expect you to have read it when you return.”

 

“Aye, aye Captain.”

 

----End of Chapter 4

 

Thank you for all of the reviews guys.

 

I was seriously debating the smut, but I decided to hold it back for chapter five. ^^;;

 

Angeal is a real character. He is a First-Class SOLDIER and will be in the Crisis Core game. I don't know anything about his personality, but it seems that Zack looks up to him, so he has to be a pretty cool guy.

 

Please review! <3