Sephiroth wakes up, lifting his head up, wondering to himself if Cloud was still alive or dead yet...

Reno pries himself off the floor, still bleeding

Cloud Strife is barely breathing.... You can't even tell he is

Sephiroth 's eyes rest on Cloud

Sephiroth says, "love?"

Reno says, "..."

Cloud Strife wheezes softly... trying to answer

Reno falls back tot he floor from the pain

Reno says, "uhh"

Sephiroth sniffles

Sephiroth says, "how could she have done that to you? Wasn't she your friend?"

Reno bleeds all over the floor. Whimpers

Zack the sound of a keycode being entered is heard... and the door swings silently open

Zack walks over to Reno and looks down at him

Sephiroth looks to the door, wondering if Tifa and Rufus have come back for more...

Zack says, "*very softly*"

Reno curls up in a ball

Zack says, "Who did this?"

Reno looks up

Reno says, "...Zack?"

Zack says, "yeah... Zack... tell me who did this"

Sephiroth can't see Zack any more cause he's out of his site

Reno says, "Tifa..."

Zack kneels down and pulls the nail out of Reno's chest

Reno says, "arrrr"

Zack says, "Shh.... Im sorry"

Reno more blood spills to the floor

Zack says, "This will not do"

Reno wraps his arms around Zack's legs and sniffles

Zack says, "Reno... does materia work on you at all?"

Sephiroth leans his head down

Reno says, "no..."

Sephiroth says, "I'm dreaming or dead... "

Zack says, "I'll take care of you then... Im back..."

Reno sniffles, clutching Zack's legs

Zack says, "where are your clothes? And what is this?"

Reno says, "don't know, Tifa and Rufus probably have them"

Zack picks up the trailing leash and taps on the collar

Reno says, "They make me wear it"

Zack removes the collar and tosses it aside

Zack says, "No more"

Sephiroth decides he's dead or something and sighs

Reno climbs into Zack's arms

Zack sighs

Sephiroth says, "Cloud.... Are we in hell?"

Zack says, "Reno please... I have to take care of my friends as well... even though Sephiroth tried to kill me...."

Reno sniffles and nods

Zack goes over to Cloud and lifts his head to look into his eyes

Reno gets back to the floor

Sephiroth sees Zack

Sephiroth says, "Zack, it really is you"

Zack says, "Poor kid... do you even remember who you are? Yeah.... It's me... you gotta see the scars someday... I had about 30 bullets in me"

Sephiroth says, "30 bullets?"

Zack says, "I didn't count really.... "

Sephiroth says, "I got tossed into the life stream ... which knocked the sense back into me. I sort of lost it after reading all those books without eating or sleeping for days"

Zack says, "You had to have been there for at least 5 years... didn't you notice?"

Sephiroth says, "the life stream?"

Zack says, "yeah"

Sephiroth says, "yeah, I noticed"

Reno curls up on the floor, still bleeding

Zack says, "he's bad off"

Zack gestures to cloud

Sephiroth says, "yes, can you please save him?"

Zack says, "I have to take care of Reno.... "

Zack unchains Sephiroth

Zack says, "You take care of him.... "

Sephiroth gets his feet to the floor

Sephiroth says, "I will, that's what I always do"

Sephiroth goes over to Cloud and unchains him

Zack tosses Sephiroth his restore materia

Cloud Strife dangles limply in Sephiroth's arms

Zack says, "Hmm... Who gave you all the scars Sephiroth?"

Sephiroth holds Cloud in his arms and looks at Zack

Sephiroth says, "hmm? Oh, the whip.... Heh"

Sephiroth uses the materia on Cloud

Cloud Strife blinks groggily and wonders why there are nails sticking out of his chest

Sephiroth gently pries the two nails out

Sephiroth says, "ohh, my poor love..."

Zack says, "I wish it was that easy to take care of Reno... Come here Reno...."

Sephiroth kisses Cloud's forehead

Reno crawls over to him

Cloud Strife says, "Oww... "

Reno lies at his feet

Zack says, "Reno you don't have to do that..."

Reno has been rather conditioned by Rufus

Zack sighs

Sephiroth says, "Love, how do you feel?"

Cloud Strife says, "It hurts to breathe a little"

Sephiroth uses another cure spell on him

Cloud Strife says, "Much better"

Reno sniffles

Zack takes off his shirt and presses it over Reno's wound gently.... The bullet pockmarks can be seen on his back and abdomen

Reno looks up at Zack

Reno says, "Wha-what happened t-to y-you?"

Zack says, "I got shot up a little... someone found me and I healed...rather miraculously.... I would have never survived.... Without having been a soldier..."

Reno sniffles

Zack says, "The old guy that gave cloud and I a ride.... Rolled by again... and saw me... he took me back to his town..."

Reno says, "you van-vanished f-for fi-five Ye-years"

Zack says, "Yeah.... Unforeseeable problem.... Im sorry Reno...."

Reno says, "it-it's ok"

Reno reaches his hand up, covered in blood, up to Zack's face

Zack says, "You don't have to be afraid anymore... Im gonna take you away from here now.... C'mon"

Sephiroth kisses Cloud's forehead and whispers

Sephiroth says, "did you have any idea about Zack?"

Reno gets up, shakily

Cloud Strife says, "no... I was sure he was dead..."

Sephiroth says, "no, I mean..."

Sephiroth moves his shoulders at Zack and Reno

Sephiroth says, "that..."

Zack sweeps Reno into his arms

Cloud Strife says, "No idea"

Reno sniffles, wrapping his arms around him

Zack says, "you two are welcome to come along.... It's not safe here. Perhaps you can come back with me and avenge Reno... look at what they've done to him...."

Sephiroth says, "yeah, no telling when those two will come back to use"

Zack says, "Scarred in body mind and spirit...."

Sephiroth says, "yikes... um, what was he like before?"

Sephiroth leans over to Cloud and whispers

Sephiroth says, "I think we should keep quiet about how we... uh... kidnapped Reno for ourselves..."

Zack says, "Quite a nice fellow..."

Cloud Strife nods

Reno buries his head into Zack's warm neck and starts to cry

Cloud Strife says, "he's gonna find out sooner or later though...."

Sephiroth says, "true..."

Zack says, "Shh Reno...."

Reno sniffles again. Closes his eyes, still buried against Zack's neck

Reno says, "home..."

Zack says, "Well I have a small apartment.... We'll go there... you two don't mind sleeping on the floor do you?"

Sephiroth says, "no"

Zack says, "Help me find some clothes or something for him and yourselves...."

Sephiroth looks around and finds his clothing and his Masamune. Dresses

Zack grabs his sword.... And looks at it

Reno is still in Zack's arms

Cloud Strife says, "hey! That's mine...."

Sephiroth finds Cloud's clothing and dresses him

Zack says, "You little runt... heh... you stole this... "

Cloud Strife frowns

Sephiroth folds his arms

Sephiroth says, "can we get going before Tifa and Rufus get here?"

Zack nods

Zack says, "Give me your cape..."

Sephiroth takes it off and hands it to him

Zack wraps Reno in it

Zack says, "Let's go"

Reno says, "home..."

Sephiroth says, "good"

Sephiroth heads off with Cloud

Zack leads the way to a rather seedy but clean apartment....

Reno keeps his arms tightly around Zack even as they walk in

Sephiroth looks around

Sephiroth says, "nice..."

Zack says, "not really..."

Reno says, "home?"

Zack says, "for now. We gotta lie low for a while... none of you are to leave here... got that?"

Sephiroth says, "yeah"

Zack says, "They don't know Im alive.... So I'll get you whatever you need"

Sephiroth says, "Rufus now controls the world"

Zack lies Reno out on the couch and tends to his wounds

Sephiroth sits down on the floor

Reno is still bleeding

Cloud Strife sits in Sephiroth's lap and relaxes

Sephiroth kisses Cloud's cheek

Zack says, "Are you a hemophiliac or something Reno? Geez...."

Reno says, "I've missed you..."

Zack says, "Im sorry Reno... I didn't want to be gone..."

Reno says, "I know. Rufus ... grabbed me a few years ago..."

Zack frowns

Cloud Strife says, "*whispers* Seph I think its best I tell him"

Sephiroth says, "yeah, you tell him... since... well, it was your idea... and he actually likes you"

Reno says, "he... made me his bitch...."

Zack says, "shh..."

Reno sniffles

Reno says, "made me do what ever he wanted..."

Cloud Strife says, "Zack... Im not exactly.... Well... I wasn't very nice to Reno myself...."

Reno says, "it got worse when he went with Tifa..."

Zack raises an eyebrow at Cloud

Zack says, "What did he do to you Reno?"

Sephiroth says, "um..."

Reno reaches his hand up to Zack's face. Strokes it gently, leaving blood where he touches

Zack takes Reno's hand and kisses it

Zack says, "Would you please stop bleeding..."

Zack sighs

Reno says, "I can't help the blood"

Zack says, "I know...."

Reno says, "Tifa nailed me..."

Zack says, "She'll pay"

Reno says, "she nailed Cloud worse..."

Zack says, "Yes. She didn't appear to have gotten any vitals on you Reno... "

Reno says, "...."

Zack says, "She punctured Cloud's lungs from the look of it"

Zack says, "But you keep bleeding... which is worrying me..."

Reno says, "but the materia healed him"

Zack says, "really Im trying Reno...."

Reno says, "I know Zack..."

Zack says, "Alright... I'll be right back"

Zack goes into the other room.... And returns shortly with a needle and some thread

Zack says, "Yeah... this is gonna hurt you know..."

Reno says, "I'm a Turk"

Zack pokes the needle into the wound

Reno says, "and I've been Rufus's bitch for the last few years..."

Reno grits his teeth

Zack says, "I told you..."

Zack pours some whiskey into Reno's wound... then puts the rest of the bottle in his hand

Reno grimaces slightly and takes the bottle. Drinks it down

Sephiroth kisses Cloud's cheek

Cloud Strife snuggles against Sephiroth.... Since Zack is too busy to listen

Zack deftly sews up Reno's wound.... Glad he passed his battlefield medical course....

Zack says, "Reno... can you roll over... I wanna see the damage they did to you"

Reno roles over

Zack traces his fingers down the whip marks... then notes the brand

Zack says, "Oh... gods... why'd they do this to you?"

Reno says, "to claim me..."

Zack says, "Why? You aren't something to be owned...."

Reno says, "so I'd be their bitch forever"

Reno sniffles

Zack says, "well you aren't anymore Reno..."

Reno turns over and looks up at Zack

Zack fingers Reno's damaged nipple

Zack says, "Damn... what happened here?"

Reno says, "nipple ring... Rufus tore it out"

Sephiroth thinks of his own nipple ring

Zack says, "Why did he put it in if he was just going to tear it out?"

Reno says, "um.... It wasn't him that did that..."

Zack says, "Then who did?"

Reno says, "It was Cloud... but... Cloud paid for that mistake already..."

Zack says, "Cloud?"

Reno says, "yes"

Zack says, "Why would he do that?"

Reno says, "..."

Reno puts a hand to Zack's cheek and tries to draw his face down

Sephiroth sighs, holding Cloud

Cloud Strife snuggles miserably in Sephiroth's arms.... Unhappy that he hurt his best friend's lover

Zack says, "What's wrong Reno?"

Reno says, "please... it's been so long Zack... kiss me?"

Zack leans down and kisses Reno

Reno kisses back; having misses him so much

Reno sniffles

Reno says, "Tifa beat me for.... Misbehaving"

Zack says, "shhh... lemme clean you up and put some clothes on you"

Reno says, "that's why I'm bleeding all over"

Zack says, "I think a sponge bath is in order.... Seph... you should clean cloud up as well... he was pretty gross hanging there...."

Sephiroth says, "ok"

Sephiroth picks Cloud up in his arms. Turns toward the bathroom, his back visible to Zack

Zack says, "You can use the kitchen sink... I'll use the bathroom...."

Sephiroth says, "ok"

Sephiroth turns to the kitchen

Zack says, "Or whatever... don't have a bathtub... And nice whip marks... Tifa and Rufus?"

Sephiroth says, "no"

Zack says, "Hmm?"

Sephiroth says, "Um... They're from Cloud...I like being whipped..."

Zack grabs some towels out of a cupboard and tosses them to Sephiroth

Sephiroth catches them

Zack says, "That doesn't really surprise me... although Cloud whipping you? That's a bit odd"

Sephiroth says, "That doesn't surprise you?"

Sephiroth turns on the water

Zack says, "Sephiroth I've always found you odd..."

Sephiroth takes off Cloud's clothing

Sephiroth says, "how so Zack?"

Zack says, "Oh... you just were"

Sephiroth says, "if it's about my hair...."

Zack says, "Never thought you capable of love... and there you are with Cloud...."

Sephiroth says, "yeah"

Reno looks around for Zack

Zack lifts Reno and takes him into the bathroom... then proceeds to daub the blood off of his chest... and arms

Sephiroth starts to Clean off Cloud

Zack says, "You are a mess..."

Reno starts to shiver

Reno says, "I feel cold..."

Zack says, "I'll put you to bed after this Reno... okay? You need rest"

Sephiroth washes the blood off of Cloud

Reno says, "yeah, I do"

Cloud Strife enjoys Sephiroth's attentions

Reno says, "I'm tired too..."

Sephiroth cleans Cloud up all the way. Sets the bloody towels down

Sephiroth says, "how do you feel now love?"

Cloud Strife says, "I feel okay"

Reno leans his head on Zack

Reno says, "I'm so cold..."

Zack cleans Reno off... and dresses him in a spare pair of his own clothes

Zack says, "Heh heh... kind of baggy... but its good enough"

Reno chuckles

Reno says, "yeah. Well, I've gotten used to wearing nothing indoors..."

Zack says, "Now... unfortunately I only have small bed... so we're gonna have to snuggle a lot.... Heh"

Reno says, "unfortunately?"

Zack says, "well yes... fortunately"

Reno grins. Drapes himself in Zack's arms

Zack says, "C'mon... lets put you to sleep... I'll be right in... Lemme just set up cloud and Sephiroth...."

Reno is weak and undernourished

Zack tucks Reno into the bed

Reno yawns

Zack says, "Whatcha want for breakfast?"

Reno says, "me?"

Zack says, "of course. I can cook you know..."

Reno says, "food would be nice..."

Zack says, "What kind Reno?"

Reno says, "any. Just food"

Zack says, "Heh... alright... I'll make it a surprise. Just relax... I'll be back"

Reno says, "I haven't been fed very much"

Sephiroth picks up Cloud, who is still naked

Cloud Strife says, "Hmm... I thought I was gonna die"

Sephiroth says, "why love?"

Cloud Strife says, "I couldn't breathe"

Sephiroth kisses his forehead

Cloud Strife yawns

Cloud Strife says, "I couldn't sleep either.... Tifa... I can't believe... she was my friend"

Sephiroth says, "I know. Now she's married to Rufus? Damn, he controls the whole world"

Cloud Strife says, "Yeah... wonder what he did to her..."

Zack pats Reno on the head

Sephiroth says, "ask Reno, he'd know"

Reno yawns, not looking very good

Cloud Strife says, "He needs ta rest...."

Zack says, "You look terrible dearest.... "

Reno says, "I've been treated poorly for years now... "

Zack says, "You'll be treated better now. Don't worry"

Reno says, "hold me love... I need to be held"

Zack removes his clothing save for a pair of boxers and crawls in with Reno... wrapping his arms around him tightly

Zack says, "You're so cold..."

Reno says, "They never did anything to me but beat me, fuck me, order me around...."

Reno sniffles and wraps his arms around Zack

Zack says, "shhh... none of that from me... unless you want to be fucked...."

Zack grins

Reno smiles

Reno says, "you know I do..."

Zack says, "Not now though... rest"

Reno says, "just they... Rufus mostly, Tifa just beat me.... "

Reno closes his eyes

Reno says, "I'm so tired..."

Zack says, "Then sleep"

Reno snuggles into Zack and goes to sleep in his arms

Sephiroth holds Cloud

Zack sighs and cuddles Reno... then drops into a light sleep as well

Sephiroth kisses Cloud softly

Cloud Strife says, "Im sleepy Seph.... "

Sephiroth says, "alright love"

Sephiroth lies down on the floor

Sephiroth says, "I'm the bed, ok?"

Cloud Strife says, "I feel bad though... we hurt Reno... I didn't know he and Zack... Mm... Alright...."

Cloud Strife looks around for a moment. Grabs a ratty looking blanket off the back of the couch Reno was laying on and curls up on Sephiroth

Zack looks at his love and sighs

Reno breathes slowly

Zack says, "I know you're bad off love... but... I can't take you to the hospital.... They'd get you back... Its better... if you're gonna die.... That you do it here... in my arms... Just sleep... hopefully... you will wake in the morning... "

Sephiroth puts his arms around Cloud. Hears Zack in the next room and sighs to himself

Sephiroth says, "Reno was punished cause we... I... nabbed him..."

Cloud Strife says, "Shh... It was my fault Seph. I told you to do it...."

Sephiroth says, "I know, I could have refused"

Reno sleeps, his icy body pressed into Zack's warm flesh

Sephiroth kisses Cloud's forehead

Sephiroth says, "see you in the morning love..."

Cloud Strife says, "Alright.... Sleep well dear heart"

Sephiroth says, "I will"

Sephiroth closes his eyes and goes to sleep

Zack shakes Reno gently

Zack says, "Your so cold... please don't be...."

Zack sobs and feels for a pulse

Sephiroth is still asleep on the kitchen floor with Cloud on his chest

Zack gets out of the bed and wraps the blankets around Reno... then goes into the kitchen

Sephiroth wakes a little

Sephiroth says, "...."

Sephiroth opens an eye

Zack looks down at Sephiroth and Cloud and sighs

Sephiroth looks up at Zack

Zack says, "You awake?"

Sephiroth says, "yes"

Zack says, "He.... He didn't wake up..."

Sephiroth blinks

Zack says, "I don't know when... but... he's gone"

Sephiroth closes his eyes

Sephiroth holds Cloud tightly to him

Zack says, "Is yours alright?"

Sephiroth shakes Cloud

Cloud Strife says, "Mmmph.... Quit it Seph... Im trying to sleep..."

Sephiroth sheds a few tears, because he feels responsible for what happened to Reno

Zack sighs

Sephiroth holds Cloud tightly

Zack says, "I gotta figure out what to do with him..."

Cloud Strife wakes up and blinks groggily

Cloud Strife says, "ugh Seph... what's with the death grip?"

Sephiroth sniffles

Zack sits cross-legged on the floor looking very serious

Cloud Strife says, "What's wrong?"

Sephiroth says, "..."

Cloud Strife says, "Where's Reno?"

Sephiroth shuts his eyes, the few tears down his cheeks

Sephiroth says, "...."

Cloud Strife says, "he's not?"

Sephiroth continues to hold Cloud, feeling sad

Zack nods sadly

Zack says, "I was too late..."

Cloud Strife flops lifelessly on Sephiroth's chest

Sephiroth stands up, holding Cloud

Cloud Strife says, "my fault.... My fault.... "

Sephiroth says, "mine too"

Cloud Strife says, "no... You were following orders"

Sephiroth says, "that's not a valid excuse..."

Cloud Strife says, "It was all just a game at first and now Reno's dead"

Zack says, "What are you talking about?"

Sephiroth says, "...."

Zack says, "What happened?"

Sephiroth says, ".... We ... uh... nabbed him"

Cloud Strife says, "I nabbed Reno.... I did Sephiroth... you were under orders... I told you to do it"

Sephiroth says, "I didn't have to listen"

Cloud Strife says, "Well you did and now he's dead"

Sephiroth says, "well... when they found us... they decided later on to punish him as well"

Cloud Strife says, "He got nailed... as you saw... and beaten quite harshly"

Zack frowns

Cloud Strife says, "As well as branded... "

Sephiroth nuzzles Cloud's neck

Cloud Strife says, "Please Seph... that might upset Zack...."

Zack says, "Naw... go head.... "

Zack sighs

Sephiroth says, "It's not what..."

Zack says, "I knew he was a goner...."

Sephiroth looks at Zack

Sephiroth says, "how?"

Zack says, "He was so cold.... And wouldn't stop bleeding... He was so tired... I told him to sleep.... It was best... that he die in my arms... and not under their boot..."

Sephiroth says, "did he know?"

Zack says, "Probably... "

Sephiroth says, "was there a way he looked at you... or something he said?"

Zack sighs

Zack says, "When he asked me to kiss him..."

Sephiroth listens to Zack

Zack says, "he sounded so desperate... I knew something was wrong.... And that he knew..."

Sephiroth says, "that he was dying?"

Zack says, "yeah..."

Sephiroth nods sadly

Cloud Strife says, "Zack it was our fault that he was punished..."

Sephiroth says, "so it's our fault that he's... gone..."

Zack says, "No... It's not your fault.... It's Tifa and Rufus"

Sephiroth nods

Zack says, "They are the ones who took him... and tormented him.... Will you two help me avenge him? They broke my love... he was so feeble and timid.... "

Sephiroth says, "I'll help"

Cloud Strife says, "I will too... got a spare sword?"

Sephiroth says, "Zack, what was he like when you knew him back then?"

Zack says, "He had a fiery personality.... We were both womanizers... before we found each other. I think I may have been the only person who could drink him under the table..."

Sephiroth says, "really?"

Zack says, "Amazing isn't it?"

Sephiroth says, "yeah"

Sephiroth says, "Zack, when you went to sleep, did you know he was going to be dead when you woke?"

Zack says, "I was pretty sure of it"

Sephiroth says, "so you held him?"

Zack says, "yes. I don't know when he died... but he was ice cold all night..."

Sephiroth nods again

Sephiroth says, "we need to get back at those two... "

Zack closes his eyes and nods

Zack says, "They almost took cloud from you as well"

Sephiroth says, "I know"

Zack says, "I was too late for Reno... but I saved him.... For you"

Sephiroth says, "but... you didn't see what they had Reno doing... you saved him as well Zack, but his life was over... "

Zack sighs and nods

Sephiroth says, "did he tell you any of it?"

Cloud Strife shivers in Sephiroth's arms... extremely upset

Zack says, "not really"

Sephiroth holds Cloud, upset as well

Sephiroth says, "what did he say? I could hear him talking to you"

Zack says, "He told me all they did was beat him.... And boss him around... and... Fuck him... I managed to make a joke out of it... he smiled"

Sephiroth says, "smiled... how long had it been since he did that?"

Zack says, "no clue"

Cloud Strife sniffles

Cloud Strife says, "I whipped him across the face..."

Sephiroth says, "He would have died in that basement, and so would have Cloud, if you had not come...."

Zack says, "It took me a while to find him... I didn't even know you were there...."

Sephiroth says, "it's ok. Um... not to sound rude, but what are we going to do with... him?"

Zack says, "Reno?"

Zack sighs

Sephiroth says, "yes"

Zack says, "I... haven't the foggiest"

Sephiroth says, "hmm, maybe we should deal with his tormenters first then"

Zack nods

Sephiroth says, "come on then"

Sephiroth gets dressed

Zack says, "I'll put a barrier on him so he doesn't rot too bad... that's kinda gross... but well"

Sephiroth gets his Masamune

Sephiroth says, "I understand that Zack"

Zack goes to care for Reno's body before they leave

Reno is just as cold as when he left

Zack gently positions Reno's body... and tucks the blankets around him

Zack says, "Poor dear... I got to hold you one last time... and you knew the safety of my arms again before you died..."

Sephiroth hears Zack talking and closes his eyes

Cloud Strife begins to cry

Sephiroth wonders if they will be dying as well.... Since this will be a hard task

Zack kisses Reno on the forehead and casts a barrier spell on him

Reno is surrounded by the spell

Sephiroth raps his arms around Cloud

Sephiroth says, "I love you Cloud... "

Zack says, "Sleep safely until I return.... I hope I don't have to join you before I can avenge you...."

Sephiroth says, "We'll get them Zack... though we might not live that long after... unless all of ShinRa breaks down"

Zack walks out of the room

Sephiroth says, "Let's go..."

Cloud Strife sniffles and nods