It wasn't as if Reno had never seen snow before. Of course, he'd been dispatched to the frigid Northern Continent on Turk business. The first time he saw snow actually falling, it did amaze him. After all, here he was – a kid from the slums, who grew up under the plate. Seeing daylight was a treat, really, never mind seeing actual snow.

Still, Reno wasn't happy any time he was sent up north on business. Snow was nice to look at, sure – but it was also hard to get around in, and fucking cold. Not to mention, Reno couldn't fly his beloved chopper if there was an ice or a snow storm – a quick ice storm would spell disaster for a helicopter pilot, as the ice would freeze the blades and keep them from turning, which would lead to a crash.

Not something Reno wanted to contemplate. Still, Cloud had some business to take care of up north; he'd recently rediscovered his love of snowmobiling, and wanted to take a road trip to test drive a few models, with the thought of possibly purchasing one. Reno scoffed, and whined, and protested. "All set with having a cold ass, yo," he muttered one day, as Cloud was badgering him, much like a pesky child, about taking a long weekend up to Icicle Inn.

"What do I have to do to convince you, Reno?" Cloud asked. "I swear to Gaia, I will get you to love the snow."

Reno chuckled. "Cloud, I love you – but it'll take a hell of a lot of convincing to get me up to Icicle Inn just for fun. Not to mention, on a snowmobile."

Knitting his brows together, Cloud reflected momentarily. "How about…unlimited blowjobs?" he inquired innocently.

Reno's eyes sprang open, and moments later, he bounded up from the couch where they'd both been reclining. "I'll start packing now, yo," he chirped. "What should we bring?"

Cloud burst out laughing. He decided not to mention that Reno could have had unlimited blowjobs anyway, whether or not he agreed to go on this trip.

They'd taken the ferry to the Northern continent, and drove a monstrosity of an SUV onto the ferry, which they'd borrowed from Barret-knowing that Fenrir wasn't cut out for riding in the snow. The one thing Cloud really did hate about winter, was the fact that he couldn't ride his beloved motorcycle.

"Maybe I can fit Fenrir with snow tires?" Cloud suggested to Reno, days before they departed. "I think I can order some in the right size…"

Reno practically glared at Cloud. He was not looking forward to having a cold ass, and now Cloud was seriously suggesting riding a motorcycle in frigid temperatures? The man had to be insane. Or, Reno reflected, Cloud was simply crazy in love with his motorcycle. He began to wonder if he had reason to be jealous.

"That'll be an empathic fuck no from me," retorted Reno. "Seriously. NO. I plan on doing a lot of staying inside at the Inn, while you go shopping for your new toy."

Cloud's face fell. "Aww, Reno…I was hoping to take you snowmobiling and sledding. It'll be fun! Honestly…it was one of the few bright spots of growing up in Nibelheim, when it snowed so much the schools would close, and we'd all play in the snow together. My mom loved it so much…she loved the snow, loved the winter," he reflected, gazing wistfully out the window.

Reno suddenly felt like a heel; clearly, Cloud was trying to relive a bit of his childhood on this trip, and here Reno was bitching and moaning about the whole prospect. "Okay," he finally relented. "I'll go with you, and I promise I'll stop complaining about it." He got up from where he was sitting, and hugged Cloud tightly. "I guess we'll have to find ways to stay warm, yo," he murmured in Cloud's ear, grinning.

Cloud gazed up at Reno and smiled. "That's not going to be a problem. At all."

And so it was, that Reno reluctantly agreed to the trip. Knowing that it'd make Cloud happy was all it really took to convince him to go. They set out on the ferry on a frigid day in January. The waters had been rough the week before, so there was actually a slight chance the ferry would be grounded, unable to sail. However, the seas were calm the day they departed.

Cloud was unusually giddy, much like Reno behaved prior to a flight in his helicopter. The Turk was amused by Cloud's enthusiasm. Other than Fenrir – well, and sex, Reno thought with a smile - Cloud never really got this excited about anything. Maybe this trip won't suck after all, Reno mused. I know the weather will, though. He grimaced as the cold seemed to blow through any microscopic crack in the ferry boat, and sunk into his very bones. He and Cloud were on the top deck of the ferry, where – conveniently – a full bar was located. Cloud reasoned that a few spiked coffees, and Reno would soon forget about how bloody cold he was.

So far, it wasn't working. Reno shivered again, and sipped his bourbon-spiked coffee miserably. Cloud felt Reno trembling beside him, and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, rubbing it briskly to warm him up. "I know you're not used to the cold like I am," Cloud began apologetically. "Thanks…for humoring me, Reno. It really means a lot to me." He gave Reno a soft kiss.

The Turk smiled, burrowing himself further into Cloud's embrace. "Mmm. You're warm," he murmured. "In fact, I'd go so far as to say, you're fucking hot." Cloud's face reddened as he grinned, leaning his head on Reno's shoulder. "You certainly know how to make me feel good about myself," he mumbled shyly, suddenly feeling modest.

"Well, you are," Reno insisted. "Just stating facts, yo."

"Thanks," Cloud murmured in thanks. "But you, Reno," he said, as he stared into Reno's eyes and played with the end of his ponytail. "You take my breath away every time I look at you. You just have no idea…"

Reno chuckled. "Listen to us, yo," he remarked. "Could we be any sappier? If anyone overheard us just now, they're probably puke." They both laughed quietly, warm in each other's embrace, as the ferryboat docked at the pier, at the southernmost peninsula of the northern continent – the only spot that was not completely covered in snow and ice. Cloud had planned to drive himself and Reno up to Icicle Inn the rest of the way in the SUV he'd borrowed from Barret. Good thing we have that, too, Cloud thought with a grimace, as they departed from the boat, driving out the lower parking deck onto the dock. There's no way in hell we'd make it the rest of the way on foot. He shifted the vehicle into gear, and they were soon on their way to the snow-laden area known as Icicle Inn.

The snow had just started to fly when Cloud drove the SUV up the mountain road toward Icicle Inn. True, the climate was slightly colder than what Cloud had experienced growing up in Nibelheim, but as long as they stayed within the confines of Icicle Inn, and didn't venture toward the much colder Gaea Cliffs, Cloud reasoned that he and Reno would be fine. Well, mostly fine. Reno was constantly shivering, and clutching onto his thermos of coffee for dear life, and they were still inside the car. Which had a really good heater.

Cloud was starting to feel a mite guilty dragging Reno along; clearly he didn't tolerate the cold very well.

"You okay, Reno? I'll turn the heat up," Cloud offered, glancing over at the passenger seat..

Reno smiled over at Cloud. "Nah, I'm okay, Cloud. Thanks. Just trying to warm up, yo."

"Okay. Just tell me if you need the heat higher, okay?" Cloud downshifted the vehicle as they approached a small hill, and ground the gears noisily. "Fuck," he muttered. "I hate driving cars. They're too big, and bulky-"

"And this is the biggest and bulkiest, yo," Reno cracked. "Hey," he continued. "Want me to take over? I don't mind driving. Might help me warm up some."

Cloud smiled gratefully over at Reno. "Thank you," he replied, as he coasted over to the shoulder, and put the SUV into neutral. "I hate driving things with more than two wheels," he said, chuckling.

"Yeah, I know," Reno said, laughing as he scrambled over the console to take the driver's seat. "So this fucker's a six-speed, huh?" he muttered. "I might actually enjoy this." He grinned widely at Cloud, who had just slid into the passenger seat. "It's a straight shot just ahead, Reno," Cloud told him. "We can't be more than six miles out."

"Cool," Reno replied, as he shifted the vehicle into gear. The gearshift was set up higher than Reno was used to; in his own car, he was used to reaching a bit lower in order to shift gears, so his hand kept wandering automatically to a point just to the right of the shift. Trying to keep his eyes on the road, Reno grabbed what he thought was the gearshift, as he approached another hill.

Um...that's no gearshift, he thought. The Turk heard Cloud moaning, as his eyes darted over to see exactly what his hand was doing. Yep. Directly on Cloud's inner thigh. "Oh, fuck," Reno muttered, taking his hand away to shift. "Sorry..."

"Don't...be...sorry," Cloud managed to gasp, after the unexpected - but welcomed - intrusion of Reno's hand. "It...felt...nice." Suddenly Cloud was having trouble forming sentences beyond a first grade reading level.

"Oh?" Reno remarked, shooting an inquiring look at his passenger. "You liked that, huh?" he said teasingly, as his hand once again wandered over Cloud's thigh, this time venturing a bit further, as Reno blindly grabbed Cloud's erection, rubbing it slowly and languorously through his pants.

"Reno," Cloud panted through gritted teeth. "The road!" Glancing up through the windshield, Reno suddenly realized he was starting to drift over the center line in the road. He quickly corrected his course, and steered the vehicle back to the proper lane. "Sorry, yo," Reno apologized, withdrawing his hand from Cloud's lap, and placing both hands back on the wheel. "Maybe we should...pull over, or something...so I can take care of you," he said, grinning.

"We really should get there before it gets too dark," Cloud replied reluctantly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"Damn it," muttered Reno, clearly disappointed. "I was having fun making you squirm, yo."

"Ha," scoffed Cloud, smirking. "Making me squirm? Hardly."

Reno raised an eyebrow curiously. "Looked to me like you were squirming...panting, out of breath...you know...the way I usually bring you to your knees, begging me to stop..."

"Hmpf," Cloud muttered, chuckling under his breath. "Let's see who will be squirming now." He shifted out of his seat, and leaned over Reno's seat, his hand wandering over the Turk's crotch, grazing his hand over a now-obvious erection. "Bet I can make you squirm, Reno," Cloud said, smiling saucily.

"Oh, you think so?" Reno taunted. He knew damn well that Cloud could - and would - make him squirm, but he was enjoying this game too much, to admit to that. "I don't know, Cloud...I just don't know if you've got it in you," Reno teased, biting his lip to keep from laughing.

"If that's a challenge, Reno, you're fucking on," Cloud growled, as he sprawled across the console and fumbled with Reno's belt buckle and zipper. "Just two things, though - both hands on the wheel, and both eyes on the road. Although, I don't think you'll be able to handle this," Cloud remarked, grinning, as he freed Reno's cock from the constricting pants, and began stroking and pumping it with both hands, as he lowered his head and teased the head with his tongue.

Reno swallowed audibly, and gripped the wheel tightly. "You'd better not make me drive this fucking thing off the road, Cloud," he muttered, his breath now coming in ragged gasps.

"We're not pulling over, Reno," Cloud mumbled in between licks. "I want us there before dark. So if you don't think you can handle driving and getting a blowjob, then I'd better just stop doing this right now..." he warned.

"No!" Reno shot back immediately. "Don't you fucking dare. That...felt good. Keep...keep doing that," he moaned, as Cloud began deep throating Reno's shaft. "Oh, fuck, Cloud...have I ever told you, you are like a wizard of cocksucking? Seriously...ahhh!" Reno yelped as Cloud gently grazed his teeth along the length of his cock. The Turk gripped the wheel even more tightly, feeling as if he might rip the entire steering column out, with each stroke and lick he felt from Cloud. He felt Cloud increase his tempo, hand and mouth moving rapidly up and down Reno's erection.

"Cloud," Reno gasped, as he felt himself approaching that moment of release. "We're...two miles from town...just...saw a sign...oh, fuck!" He flicked a switch on the steering wheel, and put the cruise control on, knowing that his legs would be momentarily useless when he came. "Oh gods," Reno moaned, as he released into Cloud's mouth. "Oh fuck..." Reno sank back slightly in his seat, actually feeling a bit dizzy, but sated. Cloud smiled triumphantly up at Reno, as he licked him clean, then pulled the Turk's pants back up for him, finally settling back in the passenger seat when he was done.

"That...that was nice," Reno admitted, as he turned off the cruise control. They were now approaching the town limits, and the lodge where they'd be staying was now within view. Snow covered the ground, and more was starting to fall, in fluffy flakes.

Cloud settled back in his seat and grinned cockily. "Bet that made you forget about how cold you were, huh?"

Reno laughed. "Yeah, now that you mention it...it did. I feel all warm inside now, yo."

Glancing over at Reno again, Cloud blushed shyly as he asked, "Reno? Am I...really that good?"

The Turk burst out laughing. "Um...yeah, Cloud," he replied. "Babe...you could suck the chrome off of a tailpipe. Yes, you are that good."

Cloud said nothing, but flashed a grin as Reno parked the SUV behind the lodge. They both got out, and got their luggage out of the hatchback.

"Well, I guess I know what to do now, every time you complain about the cold, huh?" Cloud remarked, smiling at Reno.

"Yeah," Reno replied, grinning, as he hoisted his duffel bag over his shoulder. "I think I kind of dig the winter now, Cloud."