I don't ship this pairing but I find it super cute the way Rude is all shy in FF7 when him and Reno are talking about girls they like. That and I wanted to try writing in first person again like in my Jake fic, its surprisingly really fun getting into character! Well enough of my blabbling onto the fic!

Oh and by the way it's told in Rude's POV! Just a warning!

Disclaimer: I do not own FF7 or any of the characters mentioned, SQUARE-ENIX owns everything.

Enjoy!


It's stupid.

I know.

But I can never stop myself.

I don't think you've ever noticed. I pray that you've never noticed…but…I always take some time out of my day to make sure you're all right.

I'm not much of a drinker.

Never found pleasure in drowning myself in lukewarm liquor.

Yet every day, I seem to find myself in front of a bar, just standing, doing nothing else. Occasionally I'd get a small enough boost of courage to actually enter.

But always, every single time, whenever you turn around and smile at me, I'm gone in a flash, never once looking back. Not like I'd have the balls to anyway.

Reno's words. Not mine.

I'm not very poetic either. I'm about as adept with words as a rock…I'm not very funny either.

For you though, I could try.

"What brings you here?"

My throat runs dry and my eyes widen behind my sunglasses. Well never mind about that. I take a seat at one of the booths closest to me and rest my elbows on the table.

"I need a drink."

You smile and grab a glass from beneath the counter, "So what'll it be? Beer? Vodka? Rum? Gin? Whiskey? Scotch? I could do this all day you know."

"Aren't whiskey and scotch the same thing?"

It wasn't until my stupid remark was out in the open that I realized just how stupid it was.

You stop what you're doing and stare at me from across the room, a rounded, dark eyebrow rising in amusement. You shake your head and continue once again, my words seeming to not have as much of an effect as I had assumed they would on you, "I suppose." I sigh but it comes out so quietly that I, myself, almost miss it.

"Just a water," there's a long pause before I realize I had forgotten my manners, "…please."

Taking a glass in hand, you shake your head, "Wise decision."

It's not only the fact that I don't drink, it's partially because it's 12:45 in the afternoon if I did.

The sound of the tap hits my ears then stops, and in no time at all you're standing before me, holding it out.

"Here."

"Thank you."

You walk away, dark hair trailing after you and I don't know what else to do.

This is the closest I've ever gotten to you on my own time.

This is the most I've ever talked to you on my own time.

And my mind is a blank.

I take a sip of my water quietly as you return to washing the glasses. Maybe one day I'll have the courage to talk to you. The sound of Cloud's motorcycle rings in my ears, growing louder with each passing second and my heart clenches in my chest as your eyes light up and your lips part into a surprised smile. I close my eyes and smile bitterly into my glass. No matter what you'll always love him.

And like me, you'll never give up, even though you know that you have no chance.

Maybe, if I could learn to talk to you, you could learn to let him go.

Maybe.

Just maybe.