He Wasn't Always Insane
Chapter Ten
Reno glared down at the resting general whose head was in my lap and then the glare refocused on me. My mind recalled the conversation we'd had when I'd met him the day before. The whole 'don't give me a reason to hate you' ordeal. Somehow, due to that look, I'd felt that I'd crossed that line…though I really don't think it was my fault…
He didn't say anything and that's probably what was the worst part; knowing he was mad at me but not giving me the satisfaction of a verbal lashing out of it. Call me masochistic but when people are upset (or in this case, hating my guts) I certainly like to be told of it. That may sound weird but it's better than having to question the degree in which someone would like to see you burn in hell.
"Hey Reno, you don't look too happy? Something go wrong?" Zack asked yawning widely.
"Course not." He couldn't hide the obvious twitching of his left eye and the uncontrollable curling of his lip, both of which actions kept forming this maliciously evil 'I hate you' expression. At least I wasn't the only one to notice it.
"Come on, something happened didn't it! You never reply in sentences with less than at least ten words unless there's something really wrong!" Zack pushed. Sometimes he seems so incredibly dense.
"Zack, just shut up." He walked back into his shit cluttered kitchen. We'd tried to sift through it earlier but we neither had the will power nor the energy to actually accomplish that task. What can I say? That kitchen is probably comparable to hell…well right along with the rest of the apartment…
Zack stood sighed, placing his hands on his hips and facing the door with the "I'm going in" look. Maybe he wasn't so dense after all…
"I'm gonna go find out what's chewing a hole in his ass, I'll be back assuming he doesn't rip my liver out or something…"
"Nice display of optimism…" I snorted.
"Wish me luck…" He replied and walked through the freshly slammed door to the kitchen.
After a moment or two I could distinguish the arguing taking place in an attempted hushed manner. I assumed Zack was standing in my defense on the pretenses that nothing actually happened between us, more specifically Sephiroth and myself. I mean, what brought the Turk to the conclusion that I was even interested in men to begin with? Did I come off to people as gay? I thought I acted pretty straight.
"Well, you're awfully comfortable with us for being a straight guy," Sephiroth mumbled and my face heated up and probably changed into a multitude of colors.
"I said that out loud didn't I?"
"Yes, but if it makes you feel better, I really had to strain to hear it and I do have rather exceptional hearing, I think."
"Oh yes, it makes me feel worlds better…" I rolled my eyes, catching myself as my hand subconsciously moved to feel up on his long silky hair. Hey it's not my fault he's got such nice hair! That I find it a bit alluring doesn't mean anything…I jumped slightly when I heard a loud crash followed by a "Daddy, you fucking idiot, don't destroy my goddamn kitchen!" Plus a few more non-related obscenities. Come to think of it the way Reno said that really sounded kinda …weird…He should probably get another nickname for Zack…
The silver haired man resting casually in my lap, stretched and moved to attempt a sitting position, but (as instructed by Zack) I didn't not let him make it enough to sit up.
"You remember what happened last time you tried to get up and walk a straight line right?" I yawned a little and took a handful of silver hair ensuring that he would not move any further. He was too sloshed to truly fight back so I figured for a moment I was safe, until maybe later on when he discovered from an outside source, probably Reno, that I'd done such a disrespect to his precious hair.
"Yeah but if I don't shut Reno up, my head is going to explode from this freshly forming migraine."
"I already told you, you won't make it that far. Now lay back down and shut up." Thank god for superior incoherency. Yeah I'm kinda pathetic, taking a stand when I know he won't fight back…But It's not my fault…
"Oh come on Cloud," He rolled over and sat back despite my attempts to stop him. It doesn't help that he was probably ten times as strong as I was easily and thus broke my grip like I had the iron fist of a three year old… "Don't be so stubborn! You're starting to remind me of Tseng!"
"I won't even ask, can you just lay back down, rest and be a good general?" I made the attempt…I really did, but it was sort of killed as he basically denied me the easy way out by inching closer to me and giving a look that I probably didn't want spelled out in easy to understand language. "Please?"
"But you see I just don't feel like it!" He have me a loopy smirk that send a red flag of warning waving in the back of my mind. One generally would have reason to worry if you see a look like that on a face that shouldn't have a look like that on it. Though it became ridiculously obvious as to what he was thinking when he crawled up on my lap. Yeah, call me a bit dense not to have understood the incentive of his behavior, but this is Sephiroth. You don't think he's capable of acting that way when you've met him in person…I don't care how much of Reno's vodka he'd gotten into!
"Hey now! Come on you lush! Don't pull this on me! When Reno walks back in here, he's gonna flip! Majorly!
"Let him! He's sexier when he's mad." He purred holding back my hands as he settled into a comfortable position straddling my lap. Talk about awkward…
"SEPHIROTH!" I whispered harshly, squirming under his heavy grasp. "Stop this man! You're DRUNK!"
"Not as drunk as you think Strife!" he spoke in a creepily tantalizing voice and I blanched…what would you have done? I mean really? It's harder to oppose a world-renowned being of greatness than you might think it is! I tried! Truly! I did! But his mouth came down on mine faster than I had the ability to make any more protest efforts.
He had been granted almost immediate access, due to his surprise 'attack'. It didn't take me long to see why Reno lost his breath. It almost seemed vampiric the way Sephiroth seemed to be drinking away my ability to fight back. He sent a shiver up my spine when he brushed his tongue against mine after running it over my teeth. I squirmed, fighting the urge to respond. His hands didn't help my situation either, what with the way they were pressing gently, yet rough at the same time, against my throat. Such things made my mind wander off to what other things I was sure he could do with those hands…
My face lit on fire when I realized just what he was making me think. And in a sort, I was embarrassed. Because I'd never felt that kind of reaction when I'd kissed a girl in the past (not that there had been a whole lot of times, but cut me some slack here). Those times had been awkward at best…this was a situation where my lip locked partner wasn't a girl, but a guy. While it didn't feel as wrong as I was made to believe it should, it did confuse me…after all I'd been raised with the assured belief that a man belongs with a woman. And I almost felt like I was betraying my family's teachings…Not that I hadn't betrayed those teaching before anyways…But still…My memory wasn't that great, so this was like a mind blowing new experience.
I didn't have anymore time to be lost in wonderment though, because a loud banging sound (kind of like a door? Or something wooden…) brought attention to the third person in the room. Suddenly the general currently seated in my lap seemed a bit more sober and he sat back to look behind him.
"Oh boy…" I heard Zack mumble in a barely audible sigh.
Reno looked plain out ready to slaughter me and of course I didn't help my own predicament by adding a meek, "It's not what it looks like." Because clearly it was…and I know that Reno wasn't stupid enough to buy my bullshit response anyways. He may seem thick in the head, but I know there's a brain wave some where in there.
"Oh and I suppose you think I'm going to sit back and say every thing's ginger fucking peachy?!" I winced as his harden glare was directed at me.
"I suppose not…" Sephiroth said absently moving off me to take a seat beside me…In all honesty he'd been doing perfectly fine until he'd sat up. I had reason to believe that the more he moved the more the alcohol affected him. But really it was not our fault, neither he, nor Zack nor I knew that Reno was prone to keeping liquor in a plain innocent looking water bottle…Who knew? It was an honest mistake.
"That's all you can say?!" Reno growled. "I told you Strife BACK OFF MY TERRITORY! I ought to kick your ass right now!"
"Reno, calm down-"
"Shut up Zack before I kick you where you will cry the most." He elbowed the black haired man who was ready to grab him should he lunge at me, which he seriously looked like he was going to do.
"It's not my fault Reno." I rolled my eyes.
"Oh shut up! That doesn't change a damn thing! I know what I saw! Stand up you little bastard and get in my face so I can have more of a reason to hit you!"
"Reno." Sephiroth's smooth voice cut to Reno quickly and the red headed Turk quieted. "Stop? It's not going to do anyone any good…"
"GAH! For being the super human being that you're supposed to be you're awfully dense aren't you?!" Reno exploded and I almost wanted to duck.
"What?"
"GAAAH! What's it going to take to get you to notice me!? Or take me seriously?! Fucking hell man! I don't know how to bow in your honor any lower!!!" The Turk was all but ripping his hair out, which I'm sure that was coming next since his hands were already clenched to his head in frustrated disbelief.
Zack and I were simply moving our heads back and forth now…I think he, as much as I, really just wanted to grab a chair and sit back and watch this with some popcorn, a rewind button and brief pauses for commentary in between.
Sephiroth, by this point, suddenly looked paler as if he's just had a shocking revelation. He coughed a few times and looked up at Reno. "You mean to tell me that you've been…serious? And honestly Reno…I was only testing Cloud…a guy has to know these kinda things…"
"THE FUCK!!!?" Reno shrieked…man it was almost funny to watch him lose it. "I may act like a thick headed dick MOST of the time but COME ON MAN! How obvious do I have to BE?! Should I wear a sticker on my shirt that says "Hello I'm FUCKING CRAZY FOR SEPHIROTH?!" Why can no one take me seriously!!!!!!! AND A TEST?! Oh my GOD! You could have TOLD ME!!!"
Reno finally stopped to breathe and cool off, which was probably in his best interest since he was on the verge of changing colors, which I should assume isn't healthy but what do I know? No one said any thing for a few minutes and the atmosphere of awkward kinda settled. Out of the blue, Sephiroth found the floor incredibly interesting and Reno decided he thought looking out windows was just as appealing.
Zack gave a curt, brief 'cough' and sent a 'follow me' look in my direction. I casually stood and walked behind him into the kitchen, which unlike Sephiroth's (that had a large window-like opening) Reno's kitchen was closed off, so once you shut the door you were separated from the living room. I also found it kinda weird though, that the entrance to the apartment was also separated by that same door. Then again when the door was open you really didn't even realize there was a kitchen door…it just seemed like a walkway to the living room. And I just made a whole lot of no sense…Go Cloud…You're on a role today buddy. (Note to self: Stop talking to yourself, it's weird.)
"I thought that perhaps they needed a moment." He explained, though I'd already figured that much out. After his brief reasoning though, he inched closer to me and gave me a twisted grin, one that I did not like at all. "So Spiky, how did you end up in that position?"
"ZACK!"
"I want details man! Details!"
"There's nothing to tell!" I mumbled harshly. "So how's your girlfriend, Zack."
"Oh nice change of subject, man. But since you asked, she's doing just fine! Actually she'd really take to you, I think. You'd get along well…If you still think you're straight, that is…" He snorted, taking a seat at the small table that was only big enough to comfortably accommodate two.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing man, nothing at all!" he smoothly shifted his left foot to hook over the right knee, giving him a casual yet business like appearance.
"You meant something by it and I want to know what you meant!"
"Oh come on! I saw the 'chaste' little interaction between you and Seph! You can't try and tell me otherwise! Man, I bet if we hadn't walked in and you two had been left alone, he would have so had his way with you…and you would have sooo enjoyed it!"
"Shut up, Zack! Besides…I think he probably goes better with Reno." I rolled my eyes pushing back the blush that had been fighting for dominance since the beginning of that conversation.
"Pssht, I don't think so…Reno's not his type."
"And you are?"
"Heh, god no, I'm more Reno's type than Seph's. Besides, you're more Seph's type."
"Will you knock it off?"
"What? Its true! You know I keep forgetting you really don't know us that much…You just seem to fit in so well…" He smiled giving me a pouty look for whatever reason. "I just can't help but trust you! I think you got lucky though! It took me forever to get Seph's approval!"
"Really?" I tilted my head, "Speaking of which, how did you guys all meet? You're quite a motley bunch…"
"Motley? Hmm…I guess you're right…Prepare yourself for Story Time Spiky!"
"Oh dear, I have a feeling I've dug myself into an inescapable hole…" I sighed light heartedly and took the seat across from him.
"It's not that bad…Anyways, when I first came into Soldier my first mission was with Sephiroth and a few others. And you see…we kinda bit off more than we could chew against a monster and well he stepped in and saved our sorry asses…Believe it or not Sephiroth is insanely strong…That's not just a rumor man! I've seen it myself, but back to the story. After that I kinda watched him. And I was surprised to realize how withdrawn the man is…I mean I didn't hear him speak for the longest time… I kept bugging him and he simply ignored me…it's hard making friends out of a man made of ice and steel you know?
Well slowly, and I stress the word slow, he started to respond…I tell you I nearly died when he spoke to me the first time…Albeit it was a "shut up", but it was something…Eventually he started to talk to me, and realized I wasn't as horrible as his mind had been warping me to be…You know, he's not very trusting because of Hojo and all…"
"When did Reno come in?" I interrupted. I was really interested and Zack was an easy person to open up.
"He came in…hmmm… the same time as Marka did…Marka and I aren't really very great pals like he and Reno and Seph are, but we're cool either way. The two of them approached Seph and Marka threw Reno at us, kindly informing us that Reno would be 'stalking Sephiroth'. It was Marka that first came out of the 'closet' you could say…It was the five of us…and we were taking lunch because, well we like to blow ShinRa money. He was so bloody honest about it too….Kinda like… 'Yo, you guys do know I'm gay right?' And shock us all, Seph came forward too! I think the only one who felt uncomfortable at the time was Reno…and look what happened to him! He's almost as big a flamer as Marka! He used to have a huge crush on him too."
"So you guys kinda gravitated toward each other?"
"Oh yeah! I'd definitely say that! Then we met Pharallah, one of Hojo's assistants…And Marka lost it for him…I mean head over heels! Which is why Reno's crush on him died and relocated to Sephiroth. Tseng's still pretty discreet…but I think he's got his heart wrapped around ShinRa's son, even though he's probably straight…It's tough meeting people when you have an unorthodox belief. I'm technically only bisexual, but it's still looked down on…"
"Sounds complicated…" I put my head on the table. "I mean I don't even know what I think any more…my brain is already fucked up and I'm not sure I can say I'm not gay…"
"If you're so easily adjusted to the thought then that's more reason to believe you might be. Heh, I had the same falling out…!" He breathed out. "And I'm sure the others did too…Though I'm sure it's more popular in ShinRa than in the normal world…After all there aren't many women in ShinRa, leaving guys to learn to tolerate each other a little more…though most wont admit they feel more comfortable in a room of guys than in a room of girls…You know how people don't like to admit things like that… Well I think I've pretty much given you the gist of it!"
"…Are you guys always so dramatic? I mean…you guys are striking me as a group of mental patients."
"And you feel like you fit in, don't you?"
"Sadly…yes…" I replied vaguely hearing a click from an unknown source. Zack had heard it too and he glanced at me.
We both jumped to our feet as the door to the apartment slid open, letting off the compressing air sound that electronic doors tend to make. Standing, full in uniform was Marka, giving us both awkward looks, as we looked ready to trounce him.
"What are you morons doing?" He blinked his unnaturally blue eyes.
Zack slumped his shoulders and sat back down, "You scared the hell out of me man…I thought you were an intruder…"
"Would an intruder know the 12 digit backup code for the door?" Marka shook his head "I expect such stupidity from Reno, but not you. You've been hanging around Reno too much, yo."
"Yes and he's been hanging around you too much…so what's up? You never come around unless there's a reason." Zack eyed him suspiciously.
"Oh Zack-baby, no need to get hostile with me. I've come in peace, yo."
"You know it's one thing to scare me shitless, it's another to corrupt Reno with your bad habits! Damn it, if I hear him say 'yo' one more time I' going to hit you as a consequence…"
"Those are completely unrelated things, but if it makes you feel better I haven't taught in all of my bad habits…
"Good, we don't need two colossal perverts…"
"Oh how your bitterness wounds me, love!"
Somehow, I could sense I bit of hostility coming from Zack when Reno's name was introduced to the conversation. He and Marka didn't seem to be the best of friends, and they weren't enemies, but I could feel the tension that was in place between them…I had a feeling that Reno was a key factor.
"There's another bad habit of yours he's got now, making up nicknames for people…Don't call me 'love'… god, between you and Reno I feel like a brothel owner…"
"You're and easy target Colonel…" Well that made him the third person to tell Zack the painful truth…
"Oh come on!"
"Anyways," Marka drawled with his weirdly foreign accent. "I need to talk to Pretty Boy if you don't mind…"
"He's in the living room with Reno…" I added absently and Marka stepped toward the door pressing a hand on it pushing it slightly ajar.
"Oh? You left Sephiroth and Reno alone? Oh dear…Poor Reno…god only knows what Sephiroth will do…to…" Marka trailed off dropping the sentence where it hung as his mouth was left hanging slightly open.
"Marka? What's wrong?" He didn't respond but simply pointed out the partially opened door. We, of course being nosy bastards that we are, all glanced out in a descending fashion, with Zack standing over me, and Marka kneeled below. Damn we must have looked pretty stupid.
"Whoa…Shit…"
Whoa shit was right. I couldn't help but crack a grin though. Reno was kneeled on the floor between Sephiroth's knees (facing him of course, you bunch of perverts…) and engaging in a mutual lip lock this time. I knew Reno would still be mad at me, but at least he was getting something that he wanted.
"Ahem," Marka added in a quiet cough to catch attention without completely destroying their moment. "Before you guys get to throwing down on the floor, assuming there's a clean spot, I have something to announce!" Okay, never mind…he killed the moment anyways.
Reno sat back and sighed, simply plopping down on the floor at Sephiroth's feet. He leaned an elbow on the table behind him and turned his head to face Marka.
"You are always ruining my moments, yo."
"Oh shut it or I'll kick you in the head. And quit using my taglines you spazz. But aside from pointless topics, Sephiroth, Hojo's calmed down and promised not to pincushion you if you go to him tomorrow."
"I thought Pharallah was going to deliver the message?" Sephiroth asked discreetly wiping his mouth in a failing attempt to make them look less bruised.
"Well he got a bit tied up-"
"Weren't you told you're not allowed to use restraints?" Reno cut in with a beaming grin that spelled mischievousness.
"That's not what I meant! Though it always is tempting…Actually Hojo's got him working on a Project C. I didn't get any more details though, what with it being classified bullshit…Tch…I'm not getting into that mess, because I don't wanna end up like Valentine. I'd like to live to old age."
"Valentine?" Sephiroth asked.
"That was before you were born kid, that was like twenty five years ago…Come to think of it he was shot just before you were born…But then again my memory is hazy I was only fifteen or something back then…" The rest of us gasped and several mouths hung open as we all mentally calculated how old that would make him.
"You're forty!?" Reno finally blurted.
"What? You don't razz Tseng for being thirty-eight!"
"He's thirty-eight?!"
"You guys are so clueless…Tch, children…anyways, you guys need to get yourselves ready and what not because in a week the three of you are supposed to attend some big corporate gathering because ShinRa wants Soldiers there for protection in case of a terrorist attack or what ever…The man's so bloody paranoid…So yeah, yet out your best suits ladies, and pick your dancing partners!"
"You've got to be shitting me!?" Zack groaned.
"I guess I lucked out in missing this deal…" Reno grinned smugly.
"Don't get all happy yet, underling, you're going too!" The red head's face fell from its happy stature. "After all! I need a dancing partner!"
"You've got to be shitting me!?" Wow is it me or are Reno and Zack quite alike with speech patterns…
"Yep, so I'll be seeing you later!" Marka sauntered back to the door and paused with a hand on the keypad.
"Hey Marka…" Sephiroth called. "Hojo knew that you had the information on my whereabouts didn't he?"
"Of course he did…He knows that I know everything that he doesn't…But he's not stupid enough to try and challenge me with Tseng and Rude on either side of me…"
"I guess I wouldn't either…"
"So…" Marka looked over at me briefly. "Are you gay or aren't you? I would have thought you were, but then again what do I know…" I choked at the straightforwardness of the question.
"I think we failed to mention that he's just a little blunt…And Marka you're not supposed to ask questions like that! You'll kill the process!" Zack retorted rolling his eyes.
"Process?" I blinked, what did he mean? "And I can answer that question: I don't know..."
"You don't know? What kinda answer is that? Ah, well that's what Zack said when I asked him, so it's all good. Catch you bitches later! Oh and Seph!"
"What?"
"I still want my piece of ass from you!"
"Keep walking Marka." He only grinned, winked and left, slipping out more quietly than he'd slipped in.
"So…uh, I see you two are over your confusion?" Zack eyed Reno and Sephiroth, making a statement more than a question in all actuality. I don't know if I was the only one to hear the underlying irritation from Zack but it was there and it was my assumption that it had something to do with Sephiroth.
"I suppose we are."
The two of them seemed awkward for a moment and Reno still refused to look me in the eye. But when I caught gazes with Sephiroth, there was a look in his eyes that spelled out 'I'm up to something'. He looked at Reno, then slowly moved his eyes up to Zack, knowing I was reading his looks. I slowly caught meaning to the gesture and if he was planning something, then next week would stand to test everyone's patience, especially with the newly developed tension.
To Be Continued…