Clenched Fists
Epilogue
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Reno blinked slowly, struggling to take in the bright stream of light glancing across his eyes. Sunlight. It must be morning. Reno groaned and pulled Cloud closer up against him, hiding his eyes in the curve of the younger man's neck. "Not moving. Never moving."
"I take it everything worked out for the better after all."
Reno blinked again. Moaned. Reached out for something to throw and came up with nothing but a handful of fabric shreds. "Shut it, boss. I've had a long night."
"So I see."
Reno pressed a kiss to Cloud's neck, shifted so he was lying flat on his back with Cloud snuggled up against his left side, head on Reno's shoulder, sleeping deeply and peacefully for what had to be the first time in years. He looked up at Rufus seated comfortably on the couch, cushions surrounding him like a throne. Reno smiled softly, his eyes glowing just the slightest bit. "Yeah. It's been…"
"Interesting?"
Reno laughed. "Yeah."
"So."
"So?"
"Since you seem to have gotten this…situation…under control, you will be returning to work today, I assume?"
Cloud shifted in his sleep, fingers scrabbling for a hold on Reno's stomach and gripping tightly to one sharp hipbone. His eyes scrunched up, furrowed, and he sighed. "Zack…"
Reno smiled sadly and ran a hand through the mass of tangled blond on his shoulder. "It's okay, Cloud. Sleep. Just sleep."
Cloud nuzzled Reno's neck, maybe even purred, just a little. And he settled back down, fists relaxing and muscles going slack. He smiled. "Reno."
Reno grinned. Licked his lips. Looked up at Rufus. "Sorry, boss. I think I'm gonna take a personal day."
Rufus snorted, looked down at Cloud with a speculative gleam in his eyes. "Take a week."
Reno didn't bother to answer. Cloud nuzzling his neck was answer enough for any man.
"Just…make sure you get the sap out of your system before you return to work. I don't need you throwing the office into overload. People might get…ideas."
A dark laugh like liquid cinnamon. "Sure, boss. Whatever. Just, uh…" Reno glanced down at Cloud's bare shoulder, over at the scraps of black and white that had once been his clothes. He looked up at Rufus again. "I don't suppose you could grab us a blanket?"
"Fine." Rufus snorted again and grabbed a blanket from the other end of the couch, chucking it at Reno's head and missing Cloud by centimeters. "But I'm afraid you'll have to tuck yourselves in."
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A/N: We have come to the end. The end of an era. For all of you who have stuck with me from the beginning on this one (last June!), I thank you. We've laughed, we've cried, we've cursed, but we've endured. And so have Reno and Cloud. Now, finally, do they get the little bit of rest and peace they deserve. It might not all be sunshine and roses, but it's a start. And that's really all we can ever ask, right? Again, thank you everyone for reading, fans of old and newcomers alike, and remember...feedback is love.
Slashy love,
Sam
S.J. Kohl