Reno chuckled, bringing the washcloth over after washing it out and warming it and Rude's casual clothes.
Rude wiped himself down, changing into the clothes Reno brought with a raised eyebrow. Since when did 'casual' mean his ripped jean shorts and wifebeater at the beginning of winter?
Reno shrugged, he'd grabbed what had been on top, he himself was in the shredded jeans that Rude hated almost as much as the shredded shorts because they had a strategically placed hole over his left asscheek and his white "If you don't like the heat, get the Hell outta Costa" t-shirt he'd bought while they were there.
Rude sighed. Appeared to be laundry day. Yay.
Reno immediatly got their stuff together, gathered up the dark stuff first and tossed it in. Hey, he'd learned something from the "pink suit and undies" incident.
Rude went back to the couch, lighting one of the candles on the entertainment center to get the sex smell out of the air before he went back to watching television.
That was when Rennan came in with a huge grin "Em gave me this for Papa." It was a HUGE box of chocolate. "Aunt Elena said he liked chocolate."
"Sugar high. Sticky fingers. Mess." Rude's mumbled words were not amused.
Reno chuckled "So I'm worse on chocolate than any drug you could ever give me."
Rude mumbled something that could have been 'not cleaning up after you' or something that children shouldn't hear. Either way, it was a grumble.
Reno just shook his head and continued getting the laundry together.
Tseng, meanwhile, was packing, he had been called BACK to Wutai Yuffie as there was similiar unrest there with what she had learned as there was in Edge with the bombings, and she had already had one attempt made on her life since they'd begun. "I am assuming with the insanity that has broken out as of late you will be staying here, Dear Heart, and I would really rather you did. I have a duty to my country and my princess, you have no such obligation."
"And your duty to me, Tseng?" Rufus asked, his tone indicating that he was NOT happy about being left behind.
"I did not say you could NOT accompany me, but I do not wish you harmed."
"You did not say it, but your actions did."
"Were you to come, you would be walking straight into the mouth of the beast. We both know who is behind all of this madness, and they would love nothing more than to have you where they could end your efforts with much less bloodshed than the bombings are doing as of now." Tseng sighed, shaking his head, he knew that he too was walking into the belly of the beast, as did his husband.
If reason wouldn't work... "I require a competent bodyguard in the wake of all this chaos, Tseng." There. He didn't want to, but Rufus HAD to pull the employer/employee relationship card if he was going to get his way.
Tseng sighed again "Fine. . .but you are harmed, you know I will never forgive myself."
"I am no longer a child to be doted on," Rufus said with a tiny smile, reaching for his shotgun. Which, he realized and knew that Tseng did as well, went completely contradictory to his previous statement.
Tseng packed up Rufus' things as well, before saying. "I have put the paperwork placing Rude in temporary guardianship with Rennan as heir ishould the most unfortunate circumstances occur while we are there in our safe and an electronic copy has been sent to him as well. I doubt it will be needed, but every eventuality must be planned for."
"Have you given either those two or Elena orders for the duration of our absence?" Rufus asked, knowing Tseng to be thorough, but assuming he might have forgotten something with the chaos of late.
"I have ordered Elena to direct Reeve's men as necessary to guard any other former Shinra holdings. She is only to bring Reno and Rude in if absolutely necessary. I fear for their objectivity in this matter, considering both of their past involvements with the gang they are using for their eyes, ears, and hand."
Rufus nodded at Tseng's decision. He knew he could count on the older man.
"The car has arrived to take us to the airfield, The emperor and princess will be meeting us upon landing."
Rufus rolled his eyes. "Will Godo be able to keep his grubby hands to himself this time?"
Tseng chuckled. Yes, the last time Godo had met them, he'd been OVERLY friendly.
"The man has no shame for one in a place of power," Rufus complained.
Tseng shook his head. "With Yuffie there, I have faith your buttocks are safe." And he carried the bags out to the car.
"From him or from you?" RUfus teased, settling himself into the passenger seat of the car.
Tseng chuckled, despite the graveness of the situation, before the world went to Hell. ..the explosion rocking the entire highway. "Where did that come from"
Rufus was out of the car instantly, his shotgun in hand before he even registered drawing it. There was something to be said of being trained by the man he currently called husband. His eyes darted about, searching for some telltale sign of destruction.
It was then Tseng noted it. .it had been several blocks from them. ..the materia shop that had been sold by Rufus just two days before. ..it fortunatly had been closed for lunch, or the woman who ran it would be buried inside.
Rufus was quick to return to the car's confines. "We go. Now."
Tseng nodded, directing the driver to get them to the airstrip as quickly as possible.
They arrived at the airstrip quickly, Rufus stalking from the barely parked car towards the helicopter with purpose.
Watching the Eastern Continent fall away under them for the second time in a month he wondered what was to become of them now.
Rufus had several folders full of papers on his lap. He was preparing for his statement to Godo... the one where he was going to, essentially, tell him that his Council of Elders was filled with useless, violent douchebags intent on destroying the world.
Tseng had spent hours helping him get the presentation together. ..he knew Godo already knew this, but he stood to lose much, as the Council chose the ruling clan in emergency situations, and should a state of emergency be invoked. ..Godo's clan would likely be removed from power if that happened.
Rufus sighed. If ShinRa Company was as powerful as it used to be, this whole uprising wouldn't have even been an issue. He had seen one too many wars in his lifetime, and was not looking forward to seeing another one if he could help it.
Tseng placed a hand on Rufus' "I cannot help but think this is partially my fault for trying to get them to see the necessity of change."
"One wrong step and we start a war, Tseng." Rufus' words were careful, controlled, and held a hint of fear in them. "A war we can't possibly win."
Tseng nodded. "Our people have always been so extraordinarily proud. But to kill children. .Reno was FRANTIC when he called with the news of the destruction of the grocery store and damage to the school, and I cannot blame him."
"For as much of a slimy bastard as my father was, he was a political genius. What I wouldn't give to have a piece of advice from him right now..." Rufus sighed.
"What he basically did was to hold my people at gunpoint and told them if they did not submit he would destroy their temples and sacred places."
Rufus shook his head. "Prior to the war. The creation of the SOLDIER project corrupted his way of thinking... we can thank Hojo for that." "I speak of the man who took the tiny little electric company and turned it into the most powerful corporation in the world."
"He swayed the people. ..used his almost inexhaustable charm to draw the people, to make them see what he wished them to. You know, we have one who posesses such charm, if it can be directed properly. .." Tseng knew Rufus would know exactly of who he spoke..it was Reno when correctly directed that had charmed Tifa into getting Cloud to even see them.
"Reno is a loose cannon, not suited for diplomatic functions," Rufus said plainly. Now, Rude on the other hand... probably wasn't much better. One had to smile to be diplomatic, something the bald Turk never really did while on the clock.
"It is why they make such a good team. ..Rude in the background to keep him in check.. Reno in the forefront, using that charm of his to get the people to listen. You could learn a few lessons from your former love about the use of it. One of those lessons is to loosen up sometimes. I know you can do it, You did, after all pull me into your lap and did something that could have gotten you into a fair amount of trouble were your father still alive at their reception"
"THAT was not a diplomatic function."
"Quite true...perhaps. ..we could ask Tifa to speak on our behalf.. she is one of the few women my people respect enough to actually LISTEN to. With the attachment she has now to Rennan I know she would do everything in her power to prevent him being injured. ..which if it should become public knowledge he has been named your heir would be one of the first places they would strike outside the bombings."
"We make no public announcements of whether or not I have an heir until this is done," Rufus replied. "Keep them guessing. As for Tifa... I would like to save her for a last resort... as well as Cloud." Rufus paused, a tiny smile touching the corner of his mouth. "As for my father's charm, I DID manage to inherit SOME desirable traits from the man. How else would I have captured you?"
Tseng smiled. "Quite true, when you choose to use it, you did manage to enrapture Reno for a time as well, and we all know how difficult gaining THAT one's trust is."
A tiny blush touched Rufus' cheeks. "Flattery, Tseng, will get you everywhere."
As the chopper's windscreen filled with the vision of red rocked mountains Tseng began to fidget a bit nervously, he was to act as bodyguard for the Princess during the negotiations, and he had to watch out for Rufus as well.
"This will be no different from any other diplomatic meeting, Tseng," Rufus said. "Except for the whole fate of my company."
"And possible assasins in the crowd."
"And the fact that we both could wake up dead tomorrow morning."
Tseng nodded once more, then spoke quietly."As could the other three Turks. ..and their children. Perhaps your father had the right of it in forbidding them to have families. ..I dread to think what would happen to our two most experienced should something happen to their child."
Rufus just shook his head. He knew the rammifications if things went sour in Wutai. He just chose to think positively.
The chopper hovered for a moment while a spot on the airfield was cleared for them,. then landed, Tseng stepped out to see Yuffie there, but not Godo. "Where is your father?"
Rufus took a deep breath, waiting to hear the worst: the Godo would not meet with them.
"Late, as usual," Yuffie sighed.
Tseng shook his head. "I see you appear to have been unharemed after the assasination attempt, something for which I am glad." A car pulled up just then, a portly Wutain man whose manner was at the moment deathly serious stepping out.
"They don't call me Yuffie the Great for nothing," the girl said with a cheeky smile.
Rufus walked towards Godo, a charming smile, vaguely reminicent of his father, on his lips. "Emperor Godo," he greeted with a bow, then outstretched his hand for a handshake. "I see life has been favourful towards you."
"Up until quite recently, yes." He shook, bowing as well. "Your wedding to my daughter's cousin caused quite the stir, not that I disagree that it was needed, it truly was, but it has placed me in a rather delicate position politically"
"I understand your concern," Rufus replied. "You must, however, realize that there are things going on under your watch that are not favourable to either of our causes."
"I am quite aware. Unfortunatly, until the tribunal is gathered, I cannot act, If I attempt to do so the Council will declare a state of emergency and my clan will lose the throne. NONE of us want that. ..it would bring a war you are not equipped even WITH Reeve's help to fight."
Rufus chose not to mention that Reeve had already, regretfully, denied them assistance. "How soon until the tribunal? If things continue escalating as they have been, even more innocent lives will be casualty."
"I can have them gathered in two days. ..Wutai is a very large country, and it takes time to contact them all."
"I understand," Rufus said carefully. Two days. A lot could happen in two days. And, truth be told, he preferred not to constantly be glancing over his shoulder for two whole days.
"I understand your concerns as well, President Shinra. .Chekov and his contigent shall guard you while you are here. I trust the boy with my life.
"My thanks, Emperor," Rufus said with another bow. He wasn't entirely sure how well he could trust Godo or this Chekov, but he would have to at least make it appear that he did.
"Yuffie and I are unfortunatly really the only two you can trust fully. I desire change and peace as much as my daughter does, I have simply not been in a position to make the changes that must be. You can only trust Chekov because he follows orders." Godo shook his head, he hated the situation that had been brought about.
So, either Godo wasn't nearly as bad as he appeared to be, or he was an excellent showsman. "We, too, desire peace. we must work together to regain it, especially after all this world has endured recently."
"Your fatther had charm to spare when he came to speak on Shinra's behalf, but he had no sincerity behind his words. I sense that you do. Our biggest problem is going to be gathering enough credible evidence that our elders are the driving hand behind the bombings. I know it is true, as do you. ..but without concrete proof the tribunal will not act"
"We have gathered some evidence of our own, and I would be honoured to share what we have in exchange for information of yours." It was a delicate dance, Rufus knew, but one he had been raised to perform.
"Agreed. Some of what we possess was sent to us by one of your own agents. ..Reno, I do believe. He is quite the intuitive, he discovered things I would not even have thought to look for."
"Reno is..." Rufus paused, trying to find the correct word he wanted to use. "He is different, that is certain. However, he has a strong sense of right and wrong, something that has made him one of my best Turks."
"Something when one is responsible for the life of their own one developes quite quickly. I understand that intimatly, I have my own blood to protect as well." Godo smiled over at his daughter. "I am however being slightly impolite keeping you here, come, come. Let us head back toward the palace, I will show you everything we currently have."
"You are too kind, Emperor," Rufus replied with another bow. He fell into step beside Godo, showing the man both that he was his equal, as well as respectful.
Godo bowed once more as he opened the door for the two men. When they arrived a messanger boy came unning up to them. "Lord Godo sir, there's been another bombing! One of the apartment buildings in the nicer section of Edge, sir! I recorded the news report for you to view once you are inside"
Rufus looked over at Tseng, raising an eyebrow.
Tseng had an absolutly horrid thought, and followed Godo inside quickly.
Rufus moved just as quickly, his decorum threatening to collapse. This was NOT the way things were handled.
As Godo turned on the recording, Tseng's face began to get paler by the second. ..especially as the camera began to pan in and the building became recognizable. ..Tseng let out a very soft, and very un-Tseng like curse.
When the huge boom had come to it, Reno had been in the middle of making lunch, the power flickered, then went out, the building shaking harshly, he yelled out "Aibou, get Rennan out of here! Now!"
Rude moved quickly, his eyes darting about as he searched for the child... as well as the best way to get them out of there and onto the street where it was somewhat safer.
Reno meanwhile was calling for Livewire, holding the leash in his hand.
Rennan wrapped his arms around Rude's legs, he was shaking like a leaf.
Rude picked the child up, one hand going to the back of the boy's head, holding it against his chest to protect Rennan's face. "Reno! Forget the cat! He'll make it out on his own... come on!" Rude moved quickly, with determination, towards the door.
That was when the ceiling of the kitchen caved in, just as Reno had turned around to follow. "m'alright! Just get him outta here! I'll come as soon as I can find a window." Which as they were on the second floor would probably break a leg, but he'd survive the jump.
With a final call of his partner's name, Rude turned and ran towards the stairs. He pushed through the doorway, then his feet made at staccatoed sound as he ran down the stairs. All those times he'd chosen to take the stairs as opposed to the elevator had paid off, and both he and the little redhead were at the bottom floor very quickly.
Sirens sounded just as the loud creaking that signaled the collapsing of the third floor onto the seccond did. ..the rescue crews pulling up with rescue dogs.
"Papa!" Rennan's scream was damn near heartbreaking as he watched it fall.
Rude had to push through some debris to reach the building's lobby, holding Rennan close to avoid him getting injured by anything. As he nearly fell into the lobby, he heard the floors crashing down, his throughts torn between telling Rennan to run for the door by himself and insuring the child's safety by escorting him there.
"Papa's trapped. ..get Papa. .please. ..get Papa. .." But when Rude turned he would see it was impossible, the debris were packed so tight it would take heavy equipment to get them out, the stairs blocked. ..the only way to go was out. "Livewire will keep papa safe. ..won't he?"
"He's done it before, kiddo," Rude said, hearing more rumbling and making a break for the doors before THEIR only escape route was blocked.
Rennan sat back and watched as they came in with the heavy equipment, holding onto Rude as Tifa came jogging up, still shaking llike a leaf.
Rude just stood stoically, hand against the boy's shoulders. His eyes panned the building and surrounding streets, looking for any sign of Reno.
"Gods. .." It was Tifa's only words as she took in the scene. .." I can't believe they took out an apartment building. .."
"Not the first," Rude said softly.
"Is he. ." Tifa couldn't speak the words, she just couldn't. ..she took in Rennan's tearful face and the fact that the two were alone and the word was just too much to speak. Denzel did his best to comfort the younger boy.
Tseng was having similiar thoughts as he exchanged a glance with Rufus watching the rescue workers on the television searching the building for survivors. "I cannot believe it has come to this."
"Excuse me, Emperor," Rufus said carefully. He walked into the hallway, looking around to make sure he was alone before dialing Rude's phone. He spoke with the man briefly, then hung up and walked back inside the room.
Tseng gave Rufus a questioning glance as he returned.
"Reno is missing," Rufus said softly.
Tseng winced and removed his prayer beads from his pocket, closing his eyes and quietly praying for the younger Turk's safety.
As the crane began lifting away the debris a voice from a rescuer could be heard to yell "We found one! He's alive!" As they dug a bit further a soft mew would be heard.
A mew Rude didn't hear as he was trying to comfort a crying Rennan... and failing miserably.
"Sir?" The rescuer approached him. "Is your name Rude, sir?"
Rude's gaze snapped to the rescuer. "Yes."
"The one we've found was asking for you. ..he's still partially buried, and hasn't spoken since asking for you, but we were able to hear him breathing, which indicates he's still alive. I think it best if you would remain within earshot until we've freed him completely."
Rude nodded, pulling the small redhead attached to his leg into his arms, just holding him tight.
"Rude?" The voice was echoing, ragged, a little frightened sounding, Reno HATED being pinned and he hated enclosed spaces, and right now he was experiencing both, though the shield Livewire had thrown around him just as he was being buried had kept him from being completely crushed. "Is Rennan safe?"
"Papa?"
"He's fine, Reno. You?" Rude called back, a tiny tremor in his voice.
"Pinned down, legs hurt, back hurts a little, but m'okay for the most part I think. .." and he yelled "Would someone get me outta here?" His voice had the slightest edge of hysteria to it.
Rude cleared his throat, the look he gave the rescue worker making it clear that he was holding him personally responsible for getting the redhead out of there as quickly as possible.
"papa hates being trapped"
Finally the rest of the debris was was lifted from him and they could see the full extent of the damage. ..one leg was twisted almost backward, and he had mutliple scrapes and bruises, one eye swollen fully shut, the other threatening to swell shut, but his grin showed he would bounce back as he always did.
The extent of Reno's injuries made Rude throw up just a little bit in his mouth. It was one thing to rip the head off some punk for your job, it was another to see your lover looking like a broken doll.
Livewire when they finally unburied him looked almost worse. ..a huge gash torn into the black and white cat's side, he mewed again softly, his ice blue eyes giving Rude a pitiful look.
Rude had to turn away. He just couldn't see any more.
"Ya did good, Livewire. .ya saved m'life. .." Reno gave the cat a soft pet as the veternarian came up and removed the cuahl from the debris, fortunatly the gash looked worse than it was.
Dark Nation had given a soft mew when she'd seen her mate on the tv, batting at the image with one of her black paws.
The emts loaded Reno into the ambulance as bodies began being taken out. . .and damned if the kid had not yet again defied fate, because of all those buried he was the only one who;d survived.
Tifa said quietly "You can go with him if you want, I've got Rennan."
Rude didn't speak, just nodded as he followed the paramedics feeling almost numb.
Reno with his one remaining open eye looked up at Rude. "I've survived worse, right? Damn cat saved m'damn ass again. .fuckin' terrorists. ..fuckin' Krastof's kids, fuckin' elders. ..shit"
Rude didn't answer, a slight tremor running through his frame. Shock? Naw, not Rude.
Reno sensed it, and he held up his own game face. ..he couldn't fall apart, and he figured with all of the times Rude'd been his wall, it was about time he repaid the favor. .and even injured and in pain as he was he did just that, his hand gripping his husband's squeezing slightly as he smiled.
"You're alive," Rude finally whispered.
"Damn straight. ..you didn't think I was gonna let a building fallin' on me do me in when the boss survived it, did ya?"
Still trembling slightly, Rude answered blandly. "Yeah."
Reno let out a soft "psha" sound before shock finally started setting in, his eyes slowly blinking open and closed. But he was still the trooper, smiling the entire way, holding Rude's hand, and reassuring the bigger man that he'd be fine. "'sides, ya did the right thing. ..ya got Rennan outta there. ..if ya'd come after me and gotten Rennan killed I'da never forgiven ya."
"Yeah," Rude answered again, but there was no emotion behind it. All he could do was breathe in, breathe out.
And with that they pull up, his eyes finally sliding closed, the paramedic who'd been back there with them marveling that the little man had managed to stay awake so long.
Rude just moved mechinically out of the way, letting the paramedics and doctors do what they had to.
"Rude?" The voice belonged to Elena "I saw on the news. ..I came as soon as I could get things squared away"
Rude just nodded to the girl, chosing to sit in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the waiting room.
"It's ok to cry you know. ..I know you must have been terrified. ..let me guess. ..he was doing his best to try to hold up the game face for you because both of you falling apart would have created nuclear meltdown."
Rude took a deep breath, then exhaled. He did it again. It didn't help.
Elena took him into her arms, knowing h emight flip, but at this point she knew he needed the human contact, even if he wouldn't admit it. ..the slender spitfire had been in surgery for 5 hours so far, and she knew he had to have been growing more and more insane with each hour.
"I need a cigarette," Rude said abruptly, nearly knocking the blonde girl over as he stood and stalked towards the door.
Elena nodded. "I'm coming too."
Rude had no more than taken three steps from the doorway when he had a lit cigarette in his hand and was puffing away like a chimney.
Elena bummed one, and as soon as he handed it over, she had it lit as well, she just stood next to him in compainonable silence for several long moments before quietly stating "I know you normally don't like to talk, but I really think you need to. I know you had to have been batshit insane with fear when the building came down. "
"You're right," Rude said slowly. "I don't like to talk."
Elena sighed, shaking her head. "You're going to drive yourself crazy if you don't get it out, you know. ..and as much as you need him right now, and I know damn well you do. .you aren't going to be there for him when he needs you if you end up as psychotic as Josh because you bottle it all up."
"I'm not bottling it up," Rude replied. "I'm... coping." Another cigarette was lit.
"Don't you try to bullshit me, Rudolph Amdrew Urar!" Yes, Elena had busted out the full name, NOT a good sign, especially when she had her hands on her hips. "I know better."
"Do you, Elena Annamarie Marshall?" Rude replied in the same tone before his face returned to the blank one he'd been showing. Two could play that game.
"Yes, I do, because I can tell you right now if it were SAM in surgery right now I'd be about to go insane and I'm not even with him that way anymore."
Rude took a thoughtful drag, finally replying, "I'm not you."
"No, but you are the husband of the luckiest little shit on the face of the planet who was the ONLY survivor once the building collapsed. I know damn well you're a lot more shaken up than you're letting on."
"I'm fine," Rude replied, the tiny tremor in his hand as he flicked his cigarette betraying his words.
"Bullshit, you're shaking like a damn leaf, you damn near dropped your cigarette just now."
"Did not." Liar, liar, Rude's pants on fire.
Elena sighed "I'm trying to help here, but I swear, you two are the stubbornest fucks I have ever met in my entire life. .." She was interrupted as a doctor came outside to inform them he'd come through the surgery fine and had been brought back up to his room.
"How is he doing?"
"He's alive," the doctor said with a tiny smile. "More than I can say about most people who have a building fall on them."
"Is he awake yet? I'm sure a little reassurance from him would do his husband here a world of good."
"He's on a sedative until morning. He needs sleep," the doctor replied.
"May we see him?" She gave Rude a look that said he should be thankful he came through ok.
The doctor nodded, turning to go back inside.
Elena followed him in.
The little redhead had an iv and a nasal oxygen tube hooked up. ..they'd even set up a little pet bed for Livewire next to him, who had been brought in by Tifa from the vet a couple of hours ago. No one would begrudge the cat who'd saved the only buried survivor of 5629 Mythril Lane at least that.
Rude set up shop in a chair across the room, just staring at his unconscious lover.
Reno when morning came blinked once, then twice, trying to clear the fuzz from his head from the amount of sedative still floating around in his bloodstream. "Mornin'" he said softly.
"Morning," Rude replied, his voice still rather empty. He hadn't slept a wink.
"You look like stomped shit, yo. .."
"Feel like it," Rude replied, a yawn finally breaking his face.
"You, into the other bed, get some damn rest before I call the nurse in here ta sedate you."
"I'm fine."
"You're about ta fall outta the damn chair. ..." Then, his gets a tender look and he says "Rude. ..m'sorry I scared you like that. ..I know I did. .but I hung on because I knew if I died you'd never forgive yourself for not gettin' me out too."
"I should've grabbed you both."
"You did exactly what I wanted ya to do, which was get Rennan. .You probably wouldn't made it out if you'd had us both, then all THREE of us woulda died."
Rude just sighed. He couldn't say anything more in his defence.
"I'm alive dammit. ..and I love you. ..and I do NOT blame you for me gettin' hurt. ..I don't want you blamin' yourself either."
Another sigh, and Rude finally conceeded, making his way to the other bed.
Tseng meanwhile after the call from Elena saying Reno had been found and was going to get through it fine had managed to calm Rufus down enough for them to rehearse his address for the Tribunal. ..they'd even found evidence that the Council had supported Shion's actions. ..something which he knew the Tribunal would not be happy about.
Rufus sighed. "How are we going to win this?" Cold feet? Just a little.
"There is so much evidence even the hardest hearted could not deny the truth of it."
"Then why do feel so nervous?" Rufus asked softly.
"You know what is at stake. ..and your former lover and dearest friend was nearly killed by those you must face."
Rufus shook his head, not denying it, but just wanting to shake away the uncertainty.
"We will win. ..even if it takes a civil war here. ..we will. This time we are right and our motives are just."
Rufus sighed. He knew he wouldn't feel better until after this was all over.