The Things I Do For You by Bekas Strife and Kigichi

A CloudxYuffie/CloudxReno/RenoxYuffie story

We only own the occasional random, unknown characters and storyline. The main characters, setting and whatnot belong to Square Enix.

--

It was a busy day at Seventh Heaven.

Patrons hollered with laughter and friends chatted animatedly, celebrating life. It was the fifth anniversary of Meteor's defeat and, while some mourned the death of their friends and familiars, others simply celebrated the fact that they were alive. A group was huddled at the end of the bar, everyone silently sipping their drinks. They were alive, but found no reason to celebrate. They had lost an important someone in their journey to stop Sephiroth and meteor and these anniversaries served only two purposes: making them meet and silently thank their victory to Aerith.

Sipping his whisky, Cloud grimaced at the taste. He hated it but damn, did he need it. He looked up when Tifa joined them, having left to put the kids to bed. "They all settled, at last?" He asked softly.

Smiling, Tifa nodded, taking her place next to her friend. "Yes. It was a bit of a fight but they went down." Neither Denzel nor Marlene wanted to sleep, wanting to stay up and hang out with the adults. "Denzel may pout for a few days but that's it." Looking around the bar, she smiled when she saw everyone's happy faces. But one, that is. Frowning, she nodded her head to the corner. "Any of you noticed him?" She asked, eyeing Rude. The man was sitting alone and nursing what looked like a full glass of vodka. "How long has he been here? Where is Reno?"

"He's been here for a couple hours now." Yuffie murmured, looking down. It was unusual for her to look so depressed but no-one gave it much thought, with Aerith's death on their minds. Yuffie had been pretty close to the Ancient, they knew. "I don't know about Reno, though."

Cloud looked up, eyeing Rude. He didn't show it but he was feeling anxious too. It had been years ever since he had met the red-haired Turk and he was used to see him around. His presence was a reassurance, whenever he came from a long delivery. Whenever he wasn't around, the blond felt something akin to loneliness.

Truth is... He had become more than used to the redhead. He had begun seeing him in a whole new light... And feelings he never wanted, snaked their way into his heart. If one day went by without seeing the redhead, he'd feel like everything was wrong... And now with his lack of appearance...

Getting up, Cloud walked towards Rude as he ignored the others' surprised looks. "... May I?" He asked softly once he reached the bald man.

Eyeing Cloud warily, Rude sighed and nodded, taking a long swing of his drink. "Help yourself." What did it matter? The worse thing the blond could do was make him leave and there were plenty of other bars where he could drink himself into a stupor. He just wished he did not have to come alone but Elena was at her house sobbing and Tseng and Rufus were locked up in his office, consoling one another. He was alone.

Cloud nodded and slipped onto the stool next to the other, nodding at the bartender when he pointed at his nearly empty glass in a silent question. "It's unusual." He murmured after a long moment of silence. "For you to be here, without your worse part."

Wincing, the darker man looked away, voice low. "He... You won't be seeing Reno anymore, so don't worry." He knew some of the members of Cloud's party could not stand Reno; at least that what his partner believed in. But Rude... Rude could see it. How Tifa always had a small smile for the redhead. The affection behind Cid's teasing, Vincent's gruff, choppy responses and how Yuffie was always up to spending time with him. He could especially see it in Cloud. The affection in his eyes whenever he spotted Reno. He was obvious. He liked him.

Cloud's brow twitched just slightly at the man's words. He did not understand. "... What do you mean?"

Sighing, Rude set his glass down. "Reno is dead." Caught in an explosion. It was a simple mission, textbook style pick up. But what they did not expect was a bomb. Rude got out unscratched but Reno... he couldn't even find his body. Sucking in a breath, he rubbed his temples. 'Reno...' His Reno. His buddy, partner. His little brother. Gone.

Cloud was sure he had heard it wrong. "... Dead?" The word sounded so foreign to him. Reno... dead?

"That's what I said." Rude said gruffly, swinging down the last of his drink. "Dead, gone. Never coming back. Ever." Cloud just stared at the bald man. It had to be a joke. Reno was like... a freaking cat. He had nine lives and so much more. Letting out a breath, he winced as he suddenly became aware of the pain on his right hand. He stared at it. There was glass, whisky and blood everywhere... Had he squeezed it too tightly? Sighing, Rude pulled a handkerchief from his pocket - he always kept one since Reno was constantly getting hurt - and handed it to Cloud. "Here." He did not know what to do now. Reno was the light of the Turks. The fun one who always kept them smiling. What would they do without him?

"... Was there a body?" Cloud murmured, watching Rude start to remove the pieces of glass from his skin when he made no move to do so himself.

Shaking his head, Rude removed the last piece of glass, gently wrapping Cloud's hand. "No. And I think it's for the best. He would want to be remembered as he was, not as a burnt up corpse." Cloud nodded, feeling something akin to a lump begin to form on his throat. Sitting back when Cloud's hand was wrapped, Rude took a sip from his newly filled glass. "Are you going to tell the others?" He asked, smiling softly at Cloud's look. "I know how you all feel about him...too bad Reno did not..."

"... He didn't know we didn't hate him?" Cloud asked, looking up. The Turks were almost part of their gang, now.

"Not a clue." The bald man said, shaking his head. "Reno has very set ideals and believes fully in first impressions. If he makes a bad one and is hated, he believes will all his heart that it's true and that will never chance." He felt a bit sorry for how his partner's mentality worked, not being able to see the care others held for him. "Did you not notice how whenever we came here, he would not leave my side and basically hid behind me? He believed you all hated him and knew he could not take you all on."

That was just too much for Cloud to handle. Uncaring of what Rude might think, he got up and walked away, going upstairs as he kept his head down. Locking his bedroom's door, he leaned against it and slid to the floor; if there was a time Cloud needed time alone, this was it.

Reno was gone.

Reno was gone thinking they all hated him.

Reno was gone... without knowing how Cloud had really felt about him. How he still feels for him...

Sighing at the blond's actions, Rude got up and walked over to the remaining group, noticing the quizzing looks they were giving him. "Hey."

They greeted him back, shooting quick glances towards the stairs. "What happened?"" Tifa asked worriedly.

"I gave him some news he did not take well."

"What news?"

Sighing once more, Rude took another sip of his drink. "Reno is dead."

Silence dawned on them. "... Are you serious?" Tifa whispered.

"Since when do i joke?" He used to...with Reno. But that was all over now.

Tifa winced and looked down as everyone looked between them awkwardly. "... We're sorry..." Vincent murmured, burying his nose on his high collar. It was a huge loss.

"Thank you." Rude said quietly, taking off his glasses and setting them on pocket before rubbing his eyes. "Are you coming to the funeral? He may not have known that you liked him, but I'm certain that he would of wanted you there."

Everyone nodded. "We won't miss the last opportunity to be with him." Yuffie whispered.

"Thank you." Rude sighed. It was going to be a small funeral, only with the inner circle of Turks and Avalanche. Reno did not have any family.

The group nodded again and watched as the other left after a quiet excuse. Sure, they knew they were Turks... They lived with danger right next door.

They just never thought Reno would ever be the first to go.

--

Looking around, Rufus adjusted his jacket, for once dressed completely in black. It was a sunny day and he could hear birds chirping off in the distance. 'Reno always loved the sunny days...' The redhead loved to fly, using every opportunity he could to swipe a chopper and take it for a spin. Watching everyone mingle and whisper, he sighed before going up to the memorial that had been constructed for the redhead. His photo was in the middle and was the largest, of course. Surrounding it were hundreds of pictures taken over the years. Reno smiling, sleeping, working out with Rude. There were a few of all the Turks together, him dumping a bucket of water onto Tseng's head, mud wrestling with Elena... even a few of him feeding the baby chocobos up at Rufus's ranch.

'Oh Reno...why you?' Why did it have to be him? He was so happy and full of life. "You have no idea how much we will miss you..." Rufus lowered his head.

Cloud shifted his eyes, looking down as he heard the whispered words from his place by a tree. He didn't want to be seen. He didn't want to be talked to, he didn't want to be near people at all. All he wanted to be away, watching in his peace and quiet. He didn't think he could talk at all, anyway. Ears perking, he listened as someone small approached him from behind before he felt a hand on his back. He knew who it was.

Yuffie eyed the back of Cloud's head before settling her eyes on the memorial a couple of meters away. She also treasured her quiet in such moments. "... He shouldn't have to go so soon."

"It's just....not fair." Cloud sighed deeply, shoulders slumped. "I mean... why him? Of everyone... why HIM?"

"I don't know..." Yuffie whispered sadly, curling the hand on Cloud's back into a fist. "I wish I knew... It wouldn't cure the pain... But it would offer come closure."

Biting his lip, the blond nodded stiffly. "...He never even knew that we didn't hate him..."

Yuffie bit her lip, nodding as she rested her cheek against Cloud's arm. "... He never knew you loved him." She whispered, looking up.

Flinching, the blond chuckled humorlessly. "Am I that obvious?" He thought he kept those feelings well hidden from everyone.

"Before Reno was gone? No, not really... But it really became apparent after the news reached us." Yuffie sighed. "You wouldn't sleep, you became disoriented... We knew something was up. Though, I don't think anyone else got to the bottom of it."

"Good." Cloud sighed. The last thing he needed was everyone's pity at loving the small redhead and mourning him. They had enough on their plate already. "It's... I never got to tell him." He whispered sadly, shaking his head. "I would give anything to be able to tell him."

Yuffie frowned sadly, wrapping one arm around the blond. "It'll take time... But it'll heal, Cloud." She looked away towards the memorial. "I'm sure he liked you back, very much."

At that, Cloud closed his eyes, a flash of pain going through him. "I'll never know..." The ninja looked down sadly, rubbing Cloud's arm reassuringly. Better times would come. Heaving a large sigh, Cloud straightened. "Come on... its starting." He said, turning and walking to where the funeral was starting. Yuffie just sighed, following. Sitting down next to Tifa, the blond closed his eyes, holding back the tears that had been growing for a week as the priest began to speak. Yuffie simply stared forward as she sat on the other side of Cloud. Her own tears swam in her eyes but she wouldn't let them fall. Reno wouldn't want that.

Arms crossed, Rufus grit his teeth as the man in front of them went on about how much Reno would be missed and how he was in a better place. That was bullshit. Everyone who knew the redhead knew that he was at his happiest when he was with them. Just as happy as they were with him around to keep them on their toes and humor in their lives. The priest kept on talking for another while before finishing, closing his book. There was nothing left to say.

Clearing his throat, Rufus stood up and walked over to the empty coffin. Picking up a handful of dirt, he sprinkled it into the lid. "I will miss you, Reno." He said quietly. "You were a good Turk and an even better friend. May you rest in peace."

--

Miles away, a lone figure on the ground shifted and groaned, emerald green eyes fluttering open. "Ngh…" He grunted weakly. "What happened..."

"You were hurt." Said a kind voice, hand reaching over to pat away the sweat gathering on the redhead's forehead.

Gulping, said figure looked over, blinking at the old woman by his bedside. "Where am I?"

"My home. I found you in my fields. You have some light burns and a couple of broken bones, but other than that, you're alright." Shushing the redhead when he opened her mouth, she shook her head. "Just sleep. I'll wake you up soon."

Feeling safe, the redhead sighed and closed his eyes. "Kay..."

'Rude… where are you?' Were his last thoughts before he drifted into unconsciousness once more.

--

Bekas: Thanks for reading, all! We hope you like this story as much as we do! x3 It'll be manly CloudxYuffie at first but shall have CloudxReno goodness towards the middle and end!

this is will also be posted once every two weeks. next week wont have a chapter; the other will xD