Pairings: Cloud/Reno, Tseng/Rufus. Mentioned: Zack/Cloud and Tseng/Genesis

Hurricane on the Horizon
A Reflection

Reno stepped out of his apartment building and into the cool crisp morning. The seasons were starting to change; winters hold on the city was easing as the first tendrils of spring's warming touch flowed through the streets. Reno headed in a familiar direction, one he would swear that he transversed enough times that there should be a worn in pattern of his footsteps on the smooth concrete.

Though Tseng's official residence was in Kalm, Reno was one of the few to know where and with whom he really lived with for the last few years. Stopping momentarily at the local coffee house for some supplies, Reno continued on his way towards the new ShinRa building. The roads were bare but for the few that milled about, getting ready to open their shops for the day or getting that early morning jog in before starting the busy day ahead of them.

Reno was well aware of flurry of activity around him, not only was it his nature but the need to be aware of his surrounds due to his job was so ingrained in his psyche that it was almost a sixth sense. Soaking in the sounds, he let his mind partially wander back to the events that took place this morning. He couldn't shake the feeling that he intruded on something in the living room. Like it was something that he wasn't meant to see, something private between Cloud and he didn't know. If it had been the first time, Reno would have just shook it off as nothing, but now that he thought about it, there were times in which Cloud was almost skittish around him when he entered a room unannounced.

Scowling at his thoughts, Reno pushed his way into the almost empty lobby of the Shinra building, or as it was officially called, The Lillian Shinra Memorial Building after Rufus' deceased mother. Ignoring the odd looks he received for arriving well before his normal self imposed 10 A.M. start time, he proceeded to the elevators as he slipped his key card out of his pocket. Reno checked the lids on the coffee cups while he waited patiently for the executive elevator to be recalled to the lobby. Looking up and glancing around he noted that it was much easier to maneuver through the building at this hour. The light ding of the elevator washed away that thought and he glided into the elevator, swiping his key in the reader that would grant him access to the top two floors, PH1 and PH2 respectively. Reno pressed a knuckle into the PH2 button as he palmed his key before slipping it back into his inner coat pocket.

The ride to Rufus' private residence wasn't a long one, but Reno felt the need to lean back against the far wall of the elevator and let out a deep sigh. Suddenly he felt older than his thirty years; the traitorous thoughts about his relationship just wouldn't leave his head no matter how hard he tried. Staring off in an unseeing gaze, Reno stood in the elevator for several seconds as the door opened up into the small alcove in front of the penthouse's double doors.

Chuckling to himself that he lapsed into a daydream for a minute, Reno walked towards the doors. Passing both the retina and thumb scan, he entered his own personal code to the President's home.

"You sexy beasts betta be decent or no coffee," he called out as he entered the apartment.

Tseng was the first to appear, walking out of the master suite while tying his blood red robe that had an embroidered panther crawling down the left side, tighter around his muscular form.

"Reno," he called out as he searched the redhead's face for signs of trouble, "did something happen to Rude?"

"Not that I know of," Reno said as he placed the tray of beverages on the coffee table and plucked out an old fashioned doughnut out of the bag for himself. "Why ya ask?" he said as he flopped down on the cream-colored leather couch. He tilted his head back to watch Tseng walk around the couch to sit in the arm chair next to him.

"You are here at," Tseng squinted to see the time on the grandfather clock across the room, "seven-thirty in the morning," he finished as he raised his eyebrows in shock.

Whatever Reno's response was going to be was lost as the third person in the apartment decided to make his presence know.

"Mornin' Princess," Reno chirped happily as Rufus flipped him off as the blonde shuffled over to the couch, attracted by the scent of a properly brewed cup of coffee. Turning back to Tseng, Reno shrugged and gave the simplest answer he could think of, "just thought ya two would enjoy a good cup of coffee."

"Hmm," was all Tseng had to say as he eyed his Second over the large steaming cup of coffee. The dark haired man knew from experience that it was better to remain silent if he wanted information out of his Turk. When something was troubling the redhead, he would always babble on to either Tseng or Rude until it finally came out, so he just sat back and awaited the flood of words that was to come.

Staring into his cup of coffee, Reno shrugged again, "I slept on the couch last night. Guess I got a betta nights rest there 'cause I woke up even before Cloud did."

Rufus paused mid-bite when he heard the slight catch in Reno's voice and turned to look at him, it was then that the blonde noticed the glassy look in Reno's eyes. Rufus shared a look with Tseng before patting Reno on the knee and excusing himself and heading back into the master suite. Gaia knew that Rufus loved Reno. Their relationship went deeper than employee and employer, more than friends at one point.

It wasn't that many years ago that it was Reno living here for a short time with Rufus and not Tseng, but Reno needed much more than what the President could offer him. Reno needed a deeper and more available emotional relationship and Rufus, for as much as he tried, could not do it. Their relationship ended on a good note and was chalked up to being young and wild but even Reno knew back then that Rufus was made for Tseng and Tseng for the President.

Reno flashed Tseng a sad smile as he watched Rufus get up and walk out of the room. Finishing up the last of his coffee, Reno regarded his longtime friend and boss as he thought if he should share what had been going on but Tseng, as always had more insight than he let on.

"Do you want to speak about it?" Tseng asked quietly. Reno shrugged as he started picking imaginary lint off of the sleeve of his jacket.

"It's nothing yo," he said after a few moments.

In the ensuing silence, the sound of Rufus' shower being turned on and the ticking of the second hand of the grandfather clock filled the room. Tseng sat there with a serene look on his face as he continued to wait out the redhead, he knew any moment now and Reno would crack. If anyone else was around Reno would have driven back whatever was worrying him, he was that good with hiding his issues and emotions but sometimes, even the strongest of men needed to break a little.

"He's still in love with him," he finally said.

"Pardon?" Tseng said, having an idea of who Reno was speaking about but not for certain.

"Cloud. He's still in love with Zack," Reno said with a hint of bitterness edging his tone. "Lemme ask ya something Tseng," Reno said as he shifted in his seat. "How long after Genesis left did ya hang onto his shit?"

"I.. ah," Tseng said, caught off guard by the Turk's question.

"I knew about you and Gen," Reno said as he flipped his hand in a nonchalant manner as if the point that Reno knew something that was a much-guarded secret of Tseng's meant nothing.

"Well," the Wutain started after clearing his throat a few times, "I was very angry at him and destroyed most of his belongings that I had almost immediately. It was the very first time I experienced cold rage. Why do you ask, Reno?"

"Hmm. Do you think it's different when someone leaves and when someone dies?" Reno asked, ignoring the other man's question for now.

"Everyone's experience with loss is different. Having someone choose to leave you, whether temporary or not is very different from having someone taken away from you permanently. It also depends on the person being left behind and how it effects them." Reno listened intently to Tseng's words, though they didn't offer him any comfort they did give him a different perspective.

"He still has his SOLIDER uniforms in the closet," Reno said in a pained whisper. Tseng did his best to mask the shocked look from crossing his face and was saved from responding when the clock chimed the top of the hour. Tseng didn't know what to say to that revelation, so he stood up and excused himself to get dressed for the workday that was approaching.

Rufus rejoined Reno in the living a few scant moments after Tseng left and finished off Tseng's partially eaten scone before settling back down on the couch and looking over at Reno.

"So…"

"Hm?"

"Share with me your thoughts on the newest recruits," Rufus said.

Reno was grateful for the change of subject. This was something that he could focus on and put his personal issues into the back compartment of his mind. He couldn't dwell on something that he felt might be out of his hands, something that was there before he was, something that might never ease or change.

"They're lookin' good, specially Yaz. That kid got promise," Reno said.

"Kid?" Rufus chuckled at the term to use their most promising recruit. "That Kid, as you so call him, is well over twenty-three."

"Still a kid in my books, yo," Reno said with a wink.

The President and Second in Command of the Department of Administrative Affairs took the next twenty minutes to go over the days activities that were planned for the new recruits. Reno and Rude were assigned the task of all training from office work to hand to hand combat. Rufus wanted his most capable men to handle this.

Before parting to start the grueling workday, Rufus called out to Reno and gave the Turk a somewhat worried but comforting look as he was heading to the training center two floors down from the Presidential Office.

"It's 'kay boss. Nothing I can't handle yo," Reno said as his gave Rufus a jaunty salute and walked away.