Eyes: Brown
DOB: August 28
Age: 26 at start of FFVII
History: Reno was born in Sector 6 of Migar and lived his whole in that city. His mother died of a drug overdose when he was five. From what Reno learned from his relatives, his father was in prison. But he never learned the details. After his mother's death, he and his younger sister were shuttled from relative to relative, eventually finding their way into the Midgar foster care program. But Reno was a difficult child and never stayed with any one foster parent for more than a few months before getting himself in trouble. Reno's younger sister was the only person he ever made a connection with, and she meant more to him than anything. Through all their troubles, he and his sister somehow managed to remain together. But when it was suggested that they be split up, they ran away, striking out on their own in the slums of Midgar.
Somehow they managed to survive. Reno soon joined a gang, and for the first time, he found a place where he seemed to fit in. His reckless nature and natural contempt for authority made him someone the other gang members looked up to, and he quickly worked his way up to become one of it's leaders.
When Reno was 17 his sister was killed by a rival gang member. Reno was devastated. She was the only thing that had ever been important to him. If there was any chance of Reno ever leading a normal life, it disappeared with his sister's death.
By this time Reno's activities have come to the attention of Tseng of the Turks, who keeps an eye on the gangs in the slums looking for new recruits. Reno agrees to join, mainly because he has nothing left to lose. Shortly afterward he meets Rude, and the two seemingly complete opposites form a lifelong friendship. Tseng leaves them together, thinking that Rude's methodical ways will temper Reno's boisterousness.
The two do in fact make a good team, and they eventually become Tsengs most trusted operatives. Eventually they are given the task of shadowing the young Cetra, Aeris Gainsborough, but Tseng tells them to make sure they don't mention this assignment to anyone else in Shinra. This is the first time Tseng had made such a request, which naturally stirs Reno's interest. He finds out that Hojo has given standing orders to bring in the Cetra for experimentation if she is ever found. Though Reno knows that Tseng is well aware of this, and is also aware that the head Turk has known of Aeris location for years, yet he has not complied. Reno comes to the conclusion that Tseng is taken with the young Ancient, a surprising show of weakness from the man. Still, Reno is no friend of Hojo, and does as Tseng says, waiting for a time when he might use that knowledge to his advantage.
But that time never comes. Eventually Avalanche stirs up trouble, and Hojo finds out from Don Corneo's spies where Aeris is. She is captured as the Turks are ordered to drop the plate on the Sector 7 slums.