"Let me make a call first." He murmered against Reno's lips. Reluctantly he pulled away from his lover's lips and called Peg. She had him blushing furiously about the tattoo she had done but she noted the time and address to take the suites.
"She'll be at our door in the morning," Cloud reported, burning red as he hung up. He rubbed Reno's hands and then put them back on the road.
Despite his anxiety about the wide expanse of land, it wasn't as far as he had initially thought. Cloud pulled to a hault outside what looked like the living quarters. "Cid's not quite as bad," he reassured Reno. And Barret had a daughter of his own, of which Reno had helped save.
"I hope not," Reno replied. "He still carry that toad sticker that's longer than he is tall?"
He rapped at the door and stood his ground as a mountain of a man answered. Barret Wallace was well over six feet and built like a tank. He even packed his own weaponry, a repeating gun. He also had a stone cold glare on his face that made Reno grateful that he had Cloud at his side and his EMR tucked up his sleeve. His shoulder suddenly ached a lot more than it had earlier.
"Who the hell's beatin' the damn door down?" Cid could be heard yelling from inside the building.
"Hey, Barret. Has Marlene seen this rig yet?" Cloud hoped bringing up the name of his adoptive daughter would ease the glare at Reno.
"Cloud's brought us some washed up rat to take care of," Barret hollered back at Cid.
"Why you hangin' all over this, Cloud?" Barret eyed his friend as Cloud threaded his fingers with Reno's.
"Reno helped find your daughter," Cloud reminded the bear of a man. "And we have something we need to tell the two of you."
"Marlene alright?" Cloud nodded. "Tifa?" Another nod. "No one hurt?" Cloud shook his head. "Well come on in." Cloud brushed past Barret when the man moved to admit them inside. Barret followed Reno closely, breathing down his neck.
Cid came up the hallway, lance balanced over his shoulder with one hand and the other puffing a cigarette. "Ah, that's no rat. Look- Cloud's holding his hand." Still, Cid wasn't amused and Cloud found himself tensing as Reno was surrounded. He put a restraining hand on Cid's weapon.
"Don't touch him." Cloud warned.
Reno barely kept himself from whirling around and giving Barret the attack his actions were asking for. His left hand clenched into a fist and the fingers of his right squeezed tightly against Cloud's. When Cid approached, weapon in hand, and he was effectively boxed in by both men all senses went on alert and his instincts screamed at him to defend himself. Wanting both hands free, he twisted and pulled the one in Cloud's grip but couldn't get loose unless he was willing to hurt his lover.
"Back. Off," Reno hissed. "We aren't enemies anymore, and I'm not here to start a fight, but I got no problem striking back if it's brought to me."
Cid looked from Reno to Cloud to their joined hands. The Turk seemed to be trying to get loose, and it amused the pilot to see Cloud holding on as easily as if the redhead was a recalcitrant child. He took a long drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke in Reno's direction. Reno blew it back and Cid chuckled.
"Well now, seems there's a story here. What say we hear the kid out, Barret?"
Barret huffed in annoyance and crossed his arms. Cloud was right. He could have lost Marlene if it hadn't been for the Turks' help.
"What's goin' on, Spiky?"
Well, Cloud had thought these two were going to be easier. He should have known better. These two loved a scrap more than anything and Reno seemed more than ready to give it to them.
"A lot has happened recently." Cloud held firmly to Reno's hand. He explained as quickly as he could before the two bear-like men could instigate anything more.
"There's too much to explain right now. All you really need to know is I love him and we're getting married tomorrow." He looked from Barret to Cid, tense and ready to block any blows that might come
The only thing heard in the dead silence that followed was the small sound of Cid's cigarette hitting the floor when his jaw dropped open. Cid had always known the kid was partial to men. Any man that passed up a gorgeous, self sufficient woman like Tifa had to be either brain dead or gay. Cloud had never been stupid so that left gay. But married? And to a Turk? Yeah, he could see the physical attraction. Even to Cid Reno was a pretty good looking man, but...
"Spiky?" Barret's normally booming voice sounded wispy and uncertain.
"He loves me. I love him," Reno said. He quit resisting Cloud and stepped forward until he stood in front of him. Reno was tired of being painted the villain. "We're getting married tomorrow at Aeris' church. Deal with it and show up."
With that, Reno pulled his lover around and kissed him. He was tense and irritated and he unintentionally let it come through in his kiss. He also knew he had just left his back exposed to two men who were staring at him like he'd lost his mind.
Cloud resisted releasing Reno's hand for a moment. But he felt the tension and irritation in his kiss. He wanted to relax, wanted Reno to relax. Wanted the two men to relax. Well, he couldn't make all three relax at once so he focused on Reno.
Without a second thought to the two men he released Reno's hand and embraced him. Pulling him close he gave himself up to Reno's kiss, his lips and tongue inviting play and desire.
After a long, teasing kiss, he heard a soft clearing of someone's throat. Cid's. Cloud rubbed Reno's back soothingly and pulled away to see Cid rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous grin and shrugging at a scowling Barret.
"Yeah. Uhm," Cid rubbed his nose. "We'll be there."
Reno excused himself to use his phone and left Cloud catching up with the two men while he stepped out to make some calls. One call had the Wutain priest affirming that he had no problems coming to the church. Another call to Rude ensured some light security for the affair and an escort for Tifa. Although Rude had growled dire threats Reno knew his partner was pleased to have his longtime crush as a 'date'. A last call to Tseng and Reno knew he still had several weeks off from work.
Reno had almost put his phone away when he remembered one last detail and called the jeweler. Good. The ring for Cloud would be delivered by messenger in the morning.
The details taken care of, Reno wanted to ride somewhere away from well meaning friends and have lunch with his lover. Then they could go home and Cloud could make good on his promise of a massage. Between tension and Vincent's 'warning' Reno felt knotted up and jittery.
Reno walked back into the living quarters just as Cid was slapping Cloud on the back and offering some lewd advice on keeping his husband in check.
Cloud was glad Cid seemed so eager to give him marriage advice. Threats seemed to be something they left to Vincent. Before they left Barret expressed condolences that they didn't have time to get Cloud good and drunk on his last night of freedom. Cloud waved such a thought aside, saying they had other plans for the night.
"Are you alright?" Cloud could still see the tension in Reno. At Fenrir, he pushed Reno against the bike and touched his face. "We're done for today, right? No more confrontations. Just you and I."
Turning his head to nuzzle at Cloud's hand, Reno gave his lover a weary smile.
"I think that's it. At least, I hope so. I think I'm done in for the day. Your friends...are very protective of you. I guess I'll have to get used to it."
Reno sighed, gently moved Cloud aside and mounted the bike. When Cloud was seated he draped himself over his lover's back and nosed through his hair to nip at the nape of his neck.
"Let's get outta here. We can stop somewhere private to enjoy Tifa's lunch then head home. We didn't really do much today, but I feel wrung out."
And, somewhere in the recesses of Reno's mind, a trusting teenager was shaking with fear that everything would blow up in his face. Reno closed his eyes against useless memories and pressed himself as close as humanly possible on the bike.
Cloud drove until he could see the city. Then he climbed up to the top of a dune so they could see all around them and parked the bike. "How about here?" He hopped off and fished out their sandwiches and bottled drinks.
They were close enough home that Cloud felt safe out here. But far enough out that he knew if anyone bothered them at all it would be something they wouldn't want to encounter any closer to home.
"Maybe it's good we didn't do much today. Now I can give you a proper massage and not have to worry about getting sleep until we're ready to." Cloud handed Reno a bottle and sandwich and leaned up against Fenrir to eat his own.
Reno hummed his agreement around a mouthful of sandwich and swallowed. The simple food was wonderful and Reno decided that visiting Tifa more often just became very high on his list, especially if he could drag Rude along with him.
"Looking forward to it," he answered Cloud, his voice a soft, husky purr. "I love it when you put your hands on me." He caught one hand to kiss and nibble the fingertips. "You'd think they'd be hard and callused from years of sword work, but they're soft and strong and feel so good."
Reno tugged until Cloud was sitting on the ground beside him then he stretched out in the scraggly grass and rested his head in Cloud's lap. He pressed a kiss to his lover's left hand, directly on the finger where his ring would rest.
"I can't wait to put that ring on you. Tomorrow you'll be giving me the greatest gift ever, but the first person who calls me *Mrs.* Strife gets there ass kicked. It'll probably be Yuffie, that pest. I'll have to sic Elena on her."
Reno relaxed into a boneless sprawl, soothed by the much need solitude with his lover. It was obvious, to himself at least, that they both still needed some recovery time from all they had endured. His eyes drifted closed as he rambled.
"When we get to the villa I want to unwrap you like a present. I want to touch and taste every single inch of your body. It will be like the first time because it *will* be the first time I make love to my lawfully wedded husband."
Reno eyes opened so he could see to reach up and trace Cloud's bottom lip.
"My husband...I like the sound of that a lot."
Cloud nibbled on Reno's finger tip and then cupped his hand to press it along his cheek. "Me too," he murmered.
Yuffie was a pest. He could never speak ill of her though. He loved his friends, but he had decided she could hear about this event along the grapevine. She was often so negative and way too active. Both of them would have fallen from exhaustion in just telling her, much less the other four.
Looking up at the sky, Cloud watched a lazy white puff drift past them. "You know... everytime it's rained for me has signaled another start. Another growth." He smiled down at Reno and rubbed his chest. "It would be beautiful if it rained tomorrow. We could make love with the thunder and lightning."
Reno chuckled softly.
"You're probably the first person to ever wish for rain on their wedding day, but that's okay. Being tucked away with you during a storm sounds perfect to me."
He pushed up to sit, hissing a little as his bruised shoulder twinged and muttering about cape wrapped father wannabes. Reno knelt between Cloud's legs and cupped the back of his head to bring their lips together. He kept it slow and sensual, making his way from one side of his lover's mouth to the other before easing his tongue between soft lips to taste. His fingers delved into blond hair to rub circles against Cloud's scalp, and he groaned deep in his chest. So good, always so good.
When Reno was just about ready to take Cloud there in the grass he pulled away to run his lips over his lover's face, murmuring words between kisses.
"Take me home, lover. I need you."
Cloud wasn't going to let Reno quit. Not this time. They were alone, and safe, and he wanted Reno. He didn't want to wait.
He pulled Reno close again and nuzzled his neck, nipping gently down to his collar bone. "Then take me," he whispered against warm flesh. He looked up into loving eyes. "Don't make me wait." He knew his lover, knew they'd be famished with lust when they got home. For once he didn't want to have to rush home to feel his lover touch him.
Reno's throat vibrated with a quiet, heartfelt moan. He started frantically pulling at Cloud's clothes, stripping him to skin as fast as possible.
"You always do this to me, Cloud. I always want you so much I don't care where we are, but we don't have any...never mind. I'll be careful. I'd never hurt you intentionally."
Reno spread their shirts on the ground and laid his lover on them to kiss his way down Cloud's body. Gentle fingers kneaded at Cloud's thighs and buttocks to massage and relax him. A clever tongue bypassed the hardening cock to lap teasingly at the small hole nestled between his cheeks. Reno pushed Cloud's knees up and back to spread him and hold him at his mercy.
He knew Reno would take care of him. Would never hurt him on purpose. That's what made this so much more intimate than being at home. Here there'd be nothing foreign between them. Just whatever came from their own bodies.
Gasping, Cloud moaned at the wet, probing tongue. His entrace quivered at the sensation and his cock hardened in anticipation. He reached down to thread his fingers into red spikes, whimpering softly. He knew if Reno tried he could reach orgasm from this alone.
Reno added two fingers into his attentions, petting and stroking the tight muscle ring to allow him entrance. His ears drank in the whimpers he could hear and he relished every squirm of Cloud's beautiful body, every tug to his hair. Saliva dripped from his mouth to coat his fingers and Reno penetrated with his tongue in a light mimicry of what he desperately wanted to do with his cock.
Cloud was always so tight, so hot, the mako in his body restoring his body to virginal purity within hours of them making love. Reno dragged his tongue over the tattoo of his name while sinking his forefinger deep within Cloud's body. He growled in satisfaction when the tight grip on his finger began to relax and accept him. Reno got to his knees and leaned his weight against Cloud's raised thighs so he could watch his lover's face as the second finger slid in smoothly along side the first. He pumped and twisted them while gazing in rapt fascination.
"You want me?" Reno asked and turned his hand to rub the fingertips firmly over the sweet spot.
Cloud's mouth opened with a gasping moan. That spot. Oh fuck... Reno knew just what to do everytime.
He reached up and grabbed Reno's biceps in desperation. "Yes," he hissed. "I need you. Mnn..." He squirmed. "Please, Reno. Inside. I can take it."
Reno snarled some wordless, feral reply and quickly slicked himself as best he could with his wet hand. He trembled on the edge of control, only held back by the burning need to keep his lover unharmed. Reno pushed Cloud's left knee all the way to his shoulder and he held himself at the sloppily prepared entrance. He thrust home slow and careful pausing every few seconds until he felt Cloud relax more.
The wonderful feeling made his breath catch and his vision narrow with pleasure.
"Cloud," Reno murmured and kissed the inside of the knee against his cheek.
Cloud's groans were mostly pleasure. Now and then there was a hiss or moan of discomfort and pain. But Reno was so gentle and attentive, all the pain soon melted away as his body was stretched and prepared. He was so damn lucky to have such a lover. And tomorrow he'd be his husband...
When Reno settled in deep, Cloud moved his hand up to caress his cheek and neck. "Reno... feels good." He moaned. "I love you."
"Love you back, baby."
Reno parted his lips to take Cloud's fingers, sucking on them and caressing them with his tongue while he thrust slow and deep. His fingers danced over his lover's shaft and circled the sensitive head. When Cloud's fingers were thoroughly wet Reno took his hand, kissed the palm and guided it down to touch where they were joined together. He wanted Cloud to feel how easily he was stretched around Reno's cock, how perfectly he was filled. Reno shuddered at the feel of his lover's fingers touching them both and sliding along his length with each slow push and backwards glide.
With wide eyes Cloud felt along his lover's cock where he slid in and out of his body. They fit together so well. He rubbed Reno's thick cock and touched his own rim, feeling the wet from his fingers smear along Reno and ease their union. He finished slicking Reno and then reached around to grip his thigh, dragging his blunt nails along the thick muscle with a soft cry.
Reno sat back on his heels and pulled Cloud up with him. It left his lover straddling him and his cock buried even deeper in Cloud's body. Reno tangled one hand in soft hair to draw soft lips closer for a demanding kiss.
"Ride me," he demanded in an urgent whisper. "Take all of me, use me to please yourself." Reno licked and sucked at sharply defined pectoral muscles and the jut of collar bones.
He spat their combined saliva into his hand and gave long, stroking pulls to Cloud's cock.
"Aahn..." So deep. So raw. Cloud gripped Reno's unmarred shoulder to balance himself. He started out slow, a whimper escaping his lips everytime he lowered himself and Reno slipped in that much deeper. He watched Reno's hand on his own cock, biting his lip with a moan.
Pausing, his entrance wrapped around the very base of Reno's cock, Cloud tangled his fingers in red hair and pulled. He tightened his hold on that magnificent cock and slowly rose up until he felt his crown beginning to slip free. Then he released his grip and pushed down hard with a gasping cry.
He had to feel Reno release inside him that deep. It hurt a little when he was so deep. It felt fucking wonderful when he was so deep. Cloud began to ride Reno. Rising and falling hard. He moaned and whimpered and his hand clamped down on his shoulder. "Reno, nng... fill me up... aah... deep."
Every lift and drop of Cloud's body pushed Reno deeper until he felt like he was climbing into his lover's skin. Cloud was clenched so to tightly on his cock it had to be hurting him. The greater friction of barely lubed skin ripped a groan of pained pleasure from Reno's chest. He licked his way up Cloud's neck and thrust as deeply as he could go, holding Cloud in place and grinding desperately.
Hoarse, sobbing breaths gusted against his lover's neck as Reno surrendered to his need and shuddered through his orgasm. He moaned with each spasm that jerked his overly sensitized length. Still hard, Reno kept himself buried deep and jerked Cloud frantically, wanting, needing to see his lover come apart as well.
"Come, baby," he panted. "I want to taste you."
Cloud bit the blunt nails of his other hand into Reno's side. Gasping, he leaned back slightly. "Ooh..." He clamped down, his body going rigid as long jets of his seed erupted from his cock. He shuddered with them and groaned his release.
He held onto Reno's shoulders and neck as he began to soften and his orgasm pass. "You're still hard..." he panted. Gods Reno felt wonderful still inside his aching body like that. "Twice?" He smiled even as a bead of sweat ran down his jaw.
Reno gave his lover an exhausted, incredulous smile as he licked clean the come from his hand. He wiggled to shift his cock inside of Cloud but was starting to soften. Reno gently lifted him off and laid him back on their shirts before licking him clean.
"Masochist," Reno lifted his head and teased. "Don't lie to me and tell that didn't hurt a bit." He crawled up Cloud's body to kiss his swollen lips. "Can you still get us home?"
"Yeah," Cloud shifted to sit up. "I think," he groaned with a twinge of pain that sitting up caused. He placed a hand on Reno's neck and pulled him close to nuzzle his cheek. "I've never felt you so deep." He felt a gentle breeze cool their sweat glistening bodies and sighed against Reno's neck.
Pulling back he picked up his pants, and winced as he pulled them on. It would take a while, but he knew the pain would pass sooner than later. And he didn't mind the pain, it reminded him of Reno inside him.
"I can drive," Reno offered. He put his clothes back on more easily than his hurting lover. "That is...if you want me to. I trust you to get us back, but I think I was a little rough on you."
Indeed, Reno started to feel a little guilty about his voracious appetite concerning Cloud. Cloud had only taken him the one time and his ass *still* stung. It brought into sharper focus what his demands were doing to Cloud. He was sure if it weren't for the mako his husband would be cursing him roundly and shoving him away just to get a break.
"Maybe I should be giving you a massage tonight. I wouldn't want you limping to our wedding."
Reno gathered up the remains of their lunch and tucked it away in a compartment then pulled Cloud close for another kiss.
"Sounds fair," Cloud murmered against Reno's lips. "But I still owe you one on our honeymoon." He nibbled his lover's jaw and then pulled back to hand him the key.
"Don't go faster than necassary," he mounted the back of Fenrir, carefully and with a wince. Handling Fenrir wasn't like handling any normal bike. It was a heavy vehicle and almost seemed to communicate to it's handler when you were in the driver's seat. But it also gave you a rush like no other and it was easy to forget just how dangerous the massive bike was.
Reno took the key with all the glee of a kid turned loose in a candy store. Hitting the ignition made the bike come to life with a satisfying roar. He loved his own bike that he had built himself, but Reno couldn't help but admire the fine piece of machinery. His bike was built for speed. This...this was raw power, pure and simple.
Reno looked over his shoulder to give his lover a thrilled, although slightly manic, grin and grabbed his chin for one last intense kiss.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing, but you might want to hang on...*tight*."
Reno waited until he felt Cloud's arms around his waist then he opened the throttle with a yodeling war cry.
That's what he was afraid of. Cloud pressed in tighter and wrapped his arms tighter until he remembered his own strength and quickly loosened his death grip. He trusted Reno, but he hadn't been on the passenger side of Fenrir yet. It was strange not being the one in control.
After a few minutes he began to relax and notice the scenery. Reno handled Fenrir the way he handled many things and Cloud had to smile. He rested his head on Reno's shoulder and watched the passing cliffs. His grip tightened again at unbidden memories and he closed his eyes against them.
Sensing something in Cloud, Reno freed one hand to stroke the pair clenched in his shirt. He was completely aware of their surroundings and could guess what was wrong. Reno returned both hands to the task of driving before he could upset Cloud too much with that stunt and sped up a little more to take them back to the apartment.
The trip back was uneventful, partly because Reno resisted the urge to try a few tricks. He liked his balls attached right where they were, thank you very much.
Once inside the parking garage he shut everything down as carefully as he had seen Cloud do it and hopped off to extend a helping hand to his lover.
"C'mon, babe. Dr. Reno prescribes a long, hot soak for you, a massage and a good night's sleep. I want my blushing, er, husband to look wonderful tomorrow."
Cloud gave Reno an amused look as he took his hand and dismounted. "Dr. Reno? Please don't make me call you that in bed."
He held Reno's hand and walked close to him back to the apartment. "But maybe tomorrow. When we're far from here on the beach. I can be the nurse intern, and you've decided to take advantage of me." He looked at Reno and laughed. Their sex life hardley needed any spicing up, but it was fun to think about it.
Reno looped an arm around Cloud to keep him close in the elevator. As he rounded the corner further down the hall to the apartment door his steps stuttered to a stop. Standing outside the door and leaning against the wall were two men waiting impatiently with their arms crossed. Even though it wasn't really necessary, Reno edged in front of Cloud.
"Tseng? Rude?"
Tseng flicked an invisible piece of lint from his suit jacket then pierced Reno with a look.
"You're getting married. Tomorrow."
Reno fiddled with his long tail of hair. "That's the idea, yeah." He looked over his shoulder to give his lover a puzzled look then turned back to Tseng with a sheepish grin. "Problems?"
"No. By all means, let someone else have a turn at keeping you in line."
"Hey! I'm not..." Reno sputtered.
"But you moved too quickly to allow a proper bachelor party," Rude interrupted. He picked up a large sack at his feet. "And since you're both technically the bachelor in question, it's twice the oversight."
"Poor planning, Turk. Poor, poor planning," Tseng said in his gravest voice although his eyes glinted with mischief.
While Reno glared furiously at his fellow Turks, Tseng extended a bow towards Cloud.
"Congratulations, Strife, and my sympathies. You'll have your hands full. Rude and I would like to join you for a few drinks to celebrate in lieu of a proper party."
Cloud pressed up behind Reno and held onto his arm. Resting his chin against Reno's shoulder he smiled at Tseng. "I guess one or two wouldn't hurt." He nosed Reno's ear. "We have time..." He whispered, rubbing Reno's arm. "I'm already starting to heal."
"Guess who was impatient," he looked back at the Turks, but playfully pinched Reno where the other two couldn't see his hand.
Manfully stifling a yelp, Reno gave Cloud a look that promised retribution as he turned away to unlock the door. He tossed his keys at the broken countertop and stalked to the couch, grasping Cloud's hand to pull him along. Rude and Tseng made themselves at home as if they were there every day. Although he had actually only been in Reno's apartment once, Tseng unerringly picked the correct cabinet for the glasses. His only reaction to the broken countertop was an amused lift to his eyebrow.
Reno sprawled on the couch and put a fluffy pillow between his splayed legs. Rude's questioning look was answered when his partner easily maneuvered Cloud to sit there. Just to see his lover and his partner squirm for teasing him Reno patted Cloud's hip.
"You'll have to excuse us. It's been a long day of rough riding."
Rude coughed into his fist, but Tseng leveled a shrewd glance at Reno and played hardball.
"Behave, Reno, or you don't get any of this." Tseng held up a tiny glass filled with chilled, cloudy white liquid. "Sake, from *my* stock."
Tseng gave Cloud his glass and held Reno's just out of reach until his subordinate mumbled a promise to behave.
"At least while we have company," Reno murmured into Cloud's ear. "Some things only I will ever get to see."
Tseng cleared his throat.
"To Reno and Cloud, may you always find joy in each other."
Cloud toasted Reno and kissed him before he drank, hiding his bright red blush behind the glass. He knew Reno was already planning something wicked by now, but he couldn't help himself. He drank deep and coughed once softly against the back of his hand.
"We'll be very happy," he looked back at Reno and gently pushed his elbo into Reno's side. Standing up he moved the pillow and settled more comfortably next to Reno's side. "That's great..." he eyed his glass of Sake. "Real good."
Tseng refilled their glasses several times, enough that Reno was feeling very mellow and had taken to nibbling on Cloud's ear. A discreet cough from Rude reminded him they had company when his hands started to wander as well.
"Actually, Rude, I think that's our cue to leave," Tseng said, amused. "It wouldn't do for them to have hangovers tomorrow. Reno, Cloud, good night and see you tomorrow."
Reno waved an absent hand at his fellow Turks, far more interested in trying to lick the last taste of sake from the corner of Cloud's mouth. The quiet click of the door broke his restraint.
"Hot soak for you," Reno murmured against Cloud's lips. "Go get it started. I'll join you as soon as I put a bottle of that oil on to warm. Even if you don't need it now I promised to take care of you."
Reno pushed himself off the couch and made his way to the kitchen on surprisingly steady legs.
Cloud's legs weren't so steady. Standing up he wobbled into the bathroom and began a hot bath. He threw in a soap bubble and then peeled his shirt off his back. He sat a moment, feeling the steam caress his back and neck.
Then he stripped his pants and shoes off and slowly lowered himself... well, started to slowly lower himself into the hot bath when he slipped and unceremoniously splashed into the tub with a squawk.
"Cloud!"
Reno rushed to the bathroom while still struggling to get his pants off. In his slight tipsiness he forgot that boots should come off first and ended up hopping ungracefully to his lover's rescue. He fell to his knees and hauled Cloud up by the shoulders to pat him down while his eyes flicked around the room looking for the enemy.
When he couldn't find an opponent Reno smoothed soaked strands of hair away from Cloud's eyes.
"You okay, Grace?"
Cloud looked up into Reno's eyes. "Yeah," he murmered. "I'm okay." His words slurred a little. "Are you coming in? It's real hot." He smiled and pushed himself up to kiss his lover, hand exploring his toned chest and side.
After a moment he shivered at the cool air and slid back down into the comforting heat of the bath. "Come in and hold me," he pouted.
Reno finally figured out that his boots needed to come off first and shed the rest of his clothes. He slipped into the large tub with a heartfelt groan of satisfaction and tugged Cloud back to sit between his splayed legs.
"I think you, my love, are a little sloshed," Reno chuckled and tipped Cloud's head back against his shoulder so he could nibble on his jaw. Then he leaned back with a sigh and soaped his hands to knead the sleek muscles of his husband's neck and shoulders. "Tomorrow we'll be married, and I think everyone is going to be alright with that. Anyone who's not can just shove off."
Reno smoothed his hands around to the front and worked on the taut muscles in Cloud's thighs.
"You're absolutely sure you want to do this?" A disturbing moment of pained, fearful insecurity made Reno ask.
Cloud was a little distracted by Reno's hands. It took him a moment to realize that Reno had asked him something.
"Reno?" He tilted his head to look at his lover. Turning in his arms as much as he could Cloud gave up trying to untangle his legs and hugged his lover's neck tight.
"Do you really need to ask that?" He nosed his lover's hair line and then looked him in the eye. "I love you, Reno. I want to be your husband."
"I just want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy," Reno answered then sighed again. He brushed his fingertips along Cloud's cheek. "I guess I can't help wondering when the next crisis is going to crash down on us. The track record for both of us...well, it pretty much sucks."
Reno laced their fingers together and raised Cloud's hand to his lips.
"I can stand against anything as long as you're beside me, but I'd rather not find out how much we can take."
He got distracted by a drop of water moistening Cloud's bottom lip and dipped his head to lick it away. That led to a nip for just another taste, then another until Reno covered Cloud's lips with his own and parted them with his tongue. After he ended the kiss Reno firmly turned Cloud by the shoulders to face him forward again and kneaded at his lower back and hips.
"I'm tired, but I doubt I'll sleep much tonight," he admitted.
"We'll get through it all," Cloud murmered. "Together." He hummed and leaned forward slightly at the pressure on his hips.
"Let's go to bed. We can hold each other, even if we never sleep we can relax." He eyed the towel and slowly reached for it, trying not to fall or slip again. He managed, if somewhat ackwardly. Stepping out of the tub he reached for Reno and caught himself on the tub lip.
He turned a sheepish smile on Reno. "Hmm..."
Reno had to hold back a smile over Cloud's disturbed sense of balance, his Cloud who was normally so light and graceful on his feet even when fighting. With a slightly better tolerance for Tseng's sake, he stepped from the tub and swathed them both in fluffy towels. Reno dried them off and kept a steadying arm around Cloud's waist until they reached the bed. Once there he urged his lover onto the bed, turned off all the lights then slipped between the sheets.
"Come over here, gorgeous," Reno whispered and wiggled on his back until the pillows felt just right.
"I don't think I like Sake..." Cloud settled close to Reno and rubbed his chest.
He rested his head on Reno's shoulder and rubbed his cheek against the warm flesh. "Does your arm still hurt... should I move?" He looked at the bruise and gingerly touched it with his finger tips. Lowering his head he kissed it softly and let his lips wander over the tender ouch.
"Don't move," Reno whispered. "I like the feel of you there." He kissed Cloud's forehead. "It doesn't hurt too much. Valentine could have done much worse. I'm surprised he let me off with just this as a warning."
Reno nestled Cloud more snuggly against his body and carded his fingers through his lover's hair in soothing motions. Even if he didn't think he could sleep himself he wanted Cloud to be rested for their wedding.
"Everything is almost complete. Rude told me the chopper is fueled and ready for us whenever we want it. He also told me the President wants to attend, said something about finally being able to give me away. I told Rude I wasn't the man's little girl. He asked if I was really going to argue with the boss. Guess I won't He still carries that modified shot gun under his coat."
Reno chuckled softly into the cool darkness of their bedroom. Yes, theirs now. His apartment had become a home with Cloud there. Before, it had been just a fancy place to store his stuff with a bed to drop into after work.
"Did you notice that Rude had his goatee trimmed up, and he was wearing a new pair of shades? I think Tifa demanding he be her escort finally jarred something loose in that chrome dome of his. He's liked her for a long time, you know. I hope she gives him a chance. Did you know we used to spend time while we waited for you guys to make your move talking about who in AVALANCHE we'd like a chance with? It was always Tifa for him. As for me...there was always only you."
Reno unconsciously tightened his embrace and buried his face in Cloud's soft hair.
"Just you. I love you."
