Summary: A simple TURK training exercise goes very wrong

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing its all Square's, just borrow and break em XD

Warnings: shounen ai fluff...might need to break out a box of kleenex XD

Pairing: Reno/Rude

The sound of gunfire had not long subsided, in favour of the numerous enemies, rather than the party of TURKs that had been caught out by the surprise attack, now there were only two left, trapped in hostile territory, one fatally wounded.

"Aibou?" green eyes flitted open and looked up to the cracked black shades that had chocolate eyes hidden beneath.

Rude looked down to the red head, his hand pressing on the chest wound, trying to stem the blood flow, "yeah Ren?" he spoke softly.

"Not gettin' outta this one am I?" he said softly, "shot me up pretty good..." his eyes closed again and his breathing slowed for a few deep breaths, trying to conserve his energy.

"You will," Rude assured with a stronger conviction than he felt, "I sent a signal out when we were attacked," he said, "they should be searching for us by now, just hold on."

Reno gave a shaky breath, "It was only a training exercise yo, this shouldn't have happened..." his voice was soft and sad, even as he tried to hide the pain he was in.

"It was not your fault Ren," he told his partner, "they came out of nowhere, no one would have anticipated it, and this place was approved for training cadets."

Reno sniffed a little, "they were just kids yo," he whispered, "my responsibility...and I got 'em all killed..."

Rude watched his partner, it amazed him how hard Reno acted when he was working, and how tough he acted when it came to training and prepping the Turk cadets, and yet he was truly so soft that most who didn't know him thought Reno had a twin, and didn't believe it was the same person, but few had the privilege to get to know both sides of this particular Turk, and as well as Rude knew him as a partner, he wanted to know more, as if he would ever mention it to him, he would probably scare the red head off and loose him forever. Not that it mattered now though, the wound was bad and if help didn't arrive soon it would be too late.

"Sorry I dragged you along for this yo," Reno muttered.

"You know I always got your back man," Rude replied, "no matter what."

There was a small smile on Reno's face then he stilled with a small silent pause.

Rude's face fell as he slowly brought a hand up and pressed it at Reno's neck, a weak pulse fluttered beneath his finger, soon followed by a shallow, shaky breath.

"Rude?" Reno's voice was a whisper and the other man had trouble as he strained to hear him, "sometimes...when it's the end...there are things that need to be said...right?" his slowly dimming eyes opened again.

Rude frowned and shook his head, "don't even start talkin like that," he said harshly, "I sent a signal, they are on the way, you are getting outta here alive, so don't start your goodbyes...you know I hate them."

Reno could have sworn that he saw tears behind the cracked black lenses...no Rude didn't cry, it must have been his imagination, "I know that yo...but just in case...somethin I wanted to say...I love you..."

Rude stared down at the smaller red head, unsure he heard right, "what?" he had to be sure he wasn't hearing things.

"love you yo," Reno repeated, "never said...but...I do..." he trailed off, eyes closing again as he took a few shaky deep breaths.

"You better hold on now Ren so I can show you exactly what that means to me. You are going to hold on and when help comes, you'll be taken home and fixed up, then I'll show you how much I love you, down?" he looked up hearing voices and knew instantly who they belonged to, "see, they are here now Ren, just a little longer..." he trailed off looking down to the limp form in his arms.

They were too late.