A "Random Final Fantasy 7 Yaoi Pairing Generator" crackfic. Denzel x Rude, kinda. Keyword hero.
Hero Worship
Rude probably should have been drinking somewhere else by now. He was close to being cut off for the night. He should've been going somewhere with Reno, staggering drunk and supporting each other, he thought. But Reno was too busy having life affirming sex with the boss to come bar-hopping with him, and without Reno to drag him off his ass he couldn't be bothered to move on to the next watering hole.
He'd just have to have his alcoholic celebration over their victory against Kadaj's gang alone, he thought bitterly. It wasn't that he was jealous, per se. He just wished they'd invited him to join them tonight. Of all nights, tonight was the one he would have expected them to express their unique, tight-knit bond as Turks their boss. They could've played chess all night, as long as he was with them.
So he wasn't jealous. Just lonely, which was a shame. The drinks at the 7th Heaven couldn't be beat, and the ambiance was great when he wasn't depressed. If he was going to get drunk on his own he'd rather do it somewhere nice than spend the night hauling his own ass from bar to bar until he passed out in an alley and got mugged.
He was pretty well on his way to getting that trashed, but Tifa would probably put him up in a spare room or let him sleep on the floor rather than kick him out into the streets. And to be honest, he was kind of hoping Strife would show up. He could use some decent company right about now... ah hell, he was moping.
"Are you going to finish that, or can I take it?"
Rude looked up, then refocused his eyes a bit lower to find the face of the kid in front of him. He seemed familiar, probably–
"One of Tifa's?" Rude asked.
"It's Denzel," the kid said, sitting next to him at the otherwise empty table.
"You're too young," Rude said, indicating his glass.
"I wasn't gonna drink it!" Denzel said indignantly.
"Yeah?"
"I was gonna get you a fresh one. It's warm," Denzel said, wrinkling his nose.
Rude laughed. Only Tifa could raise kids in a bar so they'd bring you cold drinks instead of sneaking shots when your back was turned.
"Don't laugh at me!" Denzel said.
"I wasn't," Rude said, still chuckling.
Denzel huffed disbelievingly.
"Do you want another or not?" the kid asked, folding his thin arms across his chest.
"Nah, I'm done," Rude said, standing up and pulling out his wallet.
"Ah, Tifa said it's on the house tonight," Denzel said.
Rude looked at him impassively, then nodded.
"Tell her thanks, okay?" Rude said, putting his coat on.
"Wait," Denzel said, blushing.
"...?"
"I, uh, just wanted to tell you that you were really cool today. Fighting," the kid stammered, scuffing the floor with his shoe.
Rude smiled faintly.
"Thanks," he called over his shoulder, walking out into the street.