Chapter: 10/10

Words: 1071

Warnings: Rude POV, possible OOC on Tseng and Rufus

AN: Okay, guys. Last chapter, WOO. Let's just see if we can end it how it should end. At least, how I decided it would end. 3 I hope you guys have sincerely enjoyed this story, and thatit was of some entertainment to you. I also want you to know that I wrote this chapter with my kitty ears on my head. :3 Also, I have decided to give Rufus ears, as well, because he'd be cute with them. :3

Chapter Ten: Sure Thing Falling

When we got to school this morning, the whole student body was sent to the auditorium for extremely bad news. According to the principal, Vincent Valentine died last night at 12:34 am of AIDs. Reno and I shifted glances between each other, and he whispered in my ear.

"I didn' know he had AIDs, Ru…" He'd taken to calling me that. I sigh.

"He didn't tell me, either…maybe he wanted to die..?"

"Didn't he tell you he'd rather die over me than live without me or some shit?"

"Ren, it isn't shit if he did die for you. I mean, it was kind of really stupid of him, but…it was his way of proving his undying love for you."

"…I'm pretty sure it died with him."

"Reno, are you so base that you don't believe there's something after this?" It was at this point that both of our attentions were sucked back to the principal and Reno's jaw went slack. Apparently, Vincent wrote a letter to us before he died.

"—And I want you to know that I did this for Reno. I wanted him to be mine and mine alone…but my plan failed, and now both he and Rude have what I had. I wish them the best…" The man paused, "And the rest is illegible."

The whole auditorium moved to focus on us, wide eyed and some red and puffy and angry-looking. Particularly from the group that had somewhat befriended Vincent. Reno clung to my arm and shrunk down for just a second; even he was caught up in the emotion that had filled the room. After a moment, though, he stood up, defiant.

"Yeah, bitches, he died for me. You know what? I didn't even like him all that much. He was a nuisance and he always got in my way."

"Maybe he did that because he loved you!" I swear that was Tifa.

"Maybe he didn't realize his love was suffocating me. For the past few months, you guys have thought he quit me. No, he showed up at my house every night and slept with me, be it cleanly or with some sex that was never quite rough enough. He was a good guy, I know that much. But he made a stupid decision in order to keep something that was never his in the first place, and you guys are probably all going to blame it on me. But you know what? It isn't my fault that he wasn't the one for me. Rude, on the other hand, makes me happy, and while you all will blame me for Vinny's death, and the fact that he wasn't happy, well, frankly, I don't give a shit. I look out for myself and Rude; always have, always will. If you guys can't get that through your skulls, then boo me, throw shit at me, beat me up in the hallways, I don't care. I've got someone for my own, now, that can tame my lecherous beast inside and you know what? I'm fuckin' happy. So if you guys are gonna be immature assholes about it, then you all can just suck it." And with that, he gave a hip thrust and pointed to his crotch before dragging me out of the auditorium.

There is an eruption of boos as we leave, but Reno isn't set on that. He pauses and heads up onto the stage, pushing the principal and plopping me down on my rear beside him.

"You guys are insensitive. Don't you realize that we have it, too? We're gonna die because he couldn't get over me. So just shut up with your booing and calling me insensitive. I care that he died! I'm not totally heartless. But isn't it good that I'm happy, now?" And with that he tugged me up and kissed me hard in front of everyone. The whole room is so silent that you can hear the light buzz of a cell phone in the background, at least on the top and back row. But then something happened that was totally unexpected.

Someone clapped. My eyes were closed and body preoccupied so I didn't catch who, but slowly more and more people began to clap until there were only a few who weren't. Soon, everyone had erupted in praise, it seemed, feeling much better about us. After the assembly, Reno headed off for his next class by himself, saying he could 'handle the bitches that don't like this'. I was approached by Tseng, who pushed Rufus in his wheel chair and stopped in front of me, blocking my path to Chemistry.

"Rude." He looks me over with dark eyes, Rufus looking down somewhere around our feet. "Are you sure you wish to do this? You know very well that Reno is infec—" I don't let him finish.

"Tseng, I appreciate that you are looking out for me, but this is what I want. He is what I want…I didn't realize it for a while, but he is. Just like you and Rufus. You know he's paralyzed from the waist down, and yet you stay with him, even if he is more work."

"But this is much more serious."

"I'm willing to die with him, and it's probably too late for me, anyway." I reply honestly, shrugging. "He's got a libido of a cat in heat even when he's not." They both look at me oddly, and Rufus' ears perked forward some.

"Tseng, drop it. If Rude thinks that this is what he wants, then let him live it. Do remember that you are devoted to me and I am unwell, as well. Sometimes things can conquer death and depression." Rufus spoke softly, capturing his lover's attention.

"Yes, Rufus." I always equate their relationship to more of a businesslike one; they have never really gotten out of it, but I know they care about one another. He pauses, though, before speaking again. "You should keep him on a short leash. We all know what he is capable of, and now he's the bane of every man in this school's existence."

"He's turned over a new leaf, Tseng. That's all I can say." And with that, I walk off and go straight to metal shop, moving in unannounced and kissing my lover on the head. Reno smiles at me and we share another kiss, and I know I've made the right decision.

AN: Alright, I thought this could use a cute ending, so it's ending there. I think I'm going to work a little more on some RudeReno for a while and then see what it leaves me with. I can't access Fanfiction at school anymore without the teacher password. =3= So…we'll see what happens. I really want to post this right now, though. (10:32am on Friday, February 26, 2010)

Anyway, I'd like to dedicate this story to HotDemonofAButler, my Icy and Kitsu, and anyone else who liked it. Thank you for your kind comments!