It's Above Us – Chapter 13

Disclaimer: I do not make money with this writing and characters belonged to Square Enix Inc.

Yazoo parked on his backyard, turned off the bike, and fast, he clumsy pulled his phone out of his pocket to know he had won free minutes from his wireless carrier. Rolling his eyes, he got off from the bike and stood in front of his porch, staring at his lonely house. The house was pitch black, which meant that Loz did not come and probably would sleep at the bar.

Yazoo was feeling tired of the working day and upset for many reasons; Loz never being there, was one of them. Nowadays, Loz was being his Cloud, acting as the man always acted with Tifa. Never there. In addition, the elder brother did not speak with him yet about his affair with his boss.

"Humph."

Yazoo entered his house turning on the lamps along the way until he got to his room. He did not like the darkness, especially feeling himself alone with his mind full of questions.

He sat on his bed and began to undress his clothes when his phone biped and he stood to pick it up above the bedside table, losing his balance entangled on his own pants, and epically falling in the floor. It was a damned text from Loz saying he will sleep in the bar tonight.

On the floor, with his phone in one hand and the other trying to lifting up, Yazoo huffed wishing to have his gun to shoot at some things.

Blowing some wisps of hair from his face, he put the phone back above the table, properly sat in the floor and gave a loud shout of anger, clenching his fists, until all the air escaped from his lungs.

Not because Loz will not come home and he was feeling lonely and in a great need to speak about the latest events in his life. It was Reno's fault.

The fact that Reno was his first 'everything' and still yet, the redhead disappeared after their awful sex upset him. He actually believed the man would call him in the day after. That silence was just making Yazoo elaborate crazy theories about himself and obviously, having his pride hurt with his failed attempt to blend.

He was sure it was not pleasant, not because Reno's work interrupted them, but it was already going bad before that and especially for the redhead.

Still, on the floor, he finished undressing his clothes, thinking about the promised second round between them. Maybe it would never happen, even with Reno showing comprehension with his bad performance.

Yazoo had to admit; he felt ashamed in being naked, too many fluids, not sanitary at all, and awkward positions. The closeness was good, about the orgasm; actually, it was better jerking off himself on his room.

The biggest disappointment; Yazoo spent so many times wondering if he would change after had sex that he felt disappointed at seeing that it did not make any difference at all. Nothing had lit inside him as Loz once said, no desire for dating someone and breed to form a family. Nothing. He was still the same, maybe a little bit more pessimist in the department of 'dating'.

Now, after more than a week, pessimist Yazoo felt too ashamed to call to the redhead and full of doubts on his head. He was not in love, about that Yazoo was sure, but his pride was so hurt to have failed in something he considered so ordinary. Sex was ordinary, necessary for many biological reasons, exalted as the most pleasurable thing humans could do to themselves, though Yazoo could think in many others pleasant acts that would make him jump in sheer pleasure more than sex. He did not know if he wanted to repeat sex again with another person and watching porn for educational purposes was not being as helpful as he was expecting. He had no clue of where to go. He had so many questions and absolutely no one else to answer.

The weirdest was the more Yazoo thought about his situation, the more he wondered if he was not suited for relationships. It could be not part of his design, even it being prejudice with himself it could be possible when Sephiroth gave him life. Their 'father' forgot to put 'emotional skills' on his brain, threw a full bucket on Loz and let only the 'emotional' for Kadaj. Yazoo had gone emptied of that quality that could possibly be responsible for the human ordinary sexuality. Shaking his head, he stood up from the floor and walked to the bathroom.

After a hot bath, a lemon pie and the leftovers of a pizza, he laid down on his bed. He stared at the ceiling body exhausted, but his mind was still running, wondering over his life. Yazoo was spinning in a weird carrousel of feelings, between anger, excitement, and misfortunes that bit by bit was pulling him out of his original character. He missed so much that cold and distant Yazoo that was giving a damn for the whole planet and its inhabitants. At least, if he could only grasp in that insensitivity part of his being; it would be easier to carry on in that ordinary imposed life.

Yazoo sighed, thinking about Kadaj. How his distressed brother, if he were alive, here with them, living that stupid life as a teenager, would act?

He would never know.

Would Loz say what at him?

Probably, that Yazoo was naïve, he did not wait for the right person, which could be anyone else but Reno.

That kind of possible commentary was what made him shut his mouth about all his issues and deal with those doubts alone. Yazoo would not like to admit, but he was feeling lonely and boring.

His great luck now was the huge amount of work in the garage. Cid was finally accomplishing his dream; Highwind V was in the last stage for flying, and for that, Yazoo and all the garage's staff were working like animals.

"Fuck all this shit."

Turning off his night lamp, Yazoo closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

At the end of the same week, after a long day of work, his team finally concluded the huge mako reactor for tests. When the huge motor roared to life; lightening with its greenish glow the place, all the hangar not only his team cheered and shouted aloud.

Yazoo was very satisfied, he had worked a lot building a part of that engine, and he was proud of a well-done work. It was good to his self-esteem, as he was feeling low in the past weeks, taking into account he was still accepting the fact he had failed in sex with Reno.

"I wanna see Shinra's president face now. They stole from me, but I'm arising from dust much better and thanks to all of my team! Congrats everyone, tonight Old Man's house on me! Let's get the fuck out of here for a lot of drinks."

They were euphoric. Staff dismissed, all of them ran out to the bar.

Old Man's House used to be a place with nothing more than the Mythril Mines. After the meteor crash, the old owner rebuilt it and turned the place into a huge thematic bar in an old western style. The urban legend told the old man still sells weapons and his bar was a safety island for dealers and buyers, attracting people from all the worlds around Gaia. Yazoo never had been there before but he liked the tale. Parking in front of the place, he admired himself with the number of ships from many different worlds. It should not be a legend but a fact. Maybe someday he would buy a gun there; it never would be his beloved Velvet Nightmare but would serve.

As soon, Yazoo entered in the crowded bar, he imagined having spotted Reno in a corner. He was sure it was he, but with so many people in the place, he lost the red hair from his sight. Yazoo felt a pinch on his ego. If it were actually Reno there, it would be an admission of their bad sex.

Upset with this possibility and already regretted to have come, Yazoo turned his back and paced to the other side of the bar, when Cid called his name, waving at him to join the team.

Cid chose a table in another area of the bar away from the crowd and pointed the chair beside Vincent. He sat and mentally ordered himself not to start looking at the man like the last time they had seen each other. He did not want to be taken as a freak by his coworkers. Vincent nodded at him with a smile and greeted for his work, relaxing sipping on his wine.

"So, thanks, boss?"

"I'm not your boss, but you've done a great job."

He was not with the ragged cape, but with a red leather jacket and insisted on that stupid bandana. Even though, Yazoo had to admit Vincent was handsome in that attire. "Here you go Yazoo staring again at the man."

"Were you there?"

Vincent veered his eyes at him and chuckled.

"Yes, I was."

"Oh. I didn't see you in the hangar."

"I know you're too excited to notice me."

Yazoo confirmed with his head and a smile, indeed he was, and after Cid dismissed them, he ran to the locker room to get ready to leave. Vincent Valentine intrigued him with that manner of showing up and disappearing without anyone noticing it. Yazoo could say the man mastered it. It often happened when he and Loz were in the Shinra's labs. The same in the Seventh Heaven. A gift Yazoo wished to have, especially now that he was thinking he had seen Reno in the place. Yazoo stretched his neck, veering his head from time to time to perch at the other side of the bar. It bothered him to feel the necessity to do that.

Some drinks later and after a huge rib steak shared with his team that he barely ate, a noisy thunder crackled outside, frightening everyone in the table.

The lights flashed and the music stopped. Everyone in the table commented about the recently tempests with rays that were cutting the energy in some spots of Midgar, causing accidents. Some minutes later, the lights and the music returned.

"Wow! Better let it go before we go, which means more booze and food!"

The team celebrated, raising their cups in the air beneath Cid's excitement. Except for Yazoo that thought it would be a good excuse to leave and Vincent that frowned his eyebrows, sipped the last gulp of his wine, and then stretched his neck to look at the weather through the window.

"Sirs, I have to go now, or I'll be stuck in here."

"Go on my friend. You're a walking lightning rod and better not get caught in the open air."

Cid tapped on Vincent's shoulder and Yazoo taking the chance to go home, but before, he wanted to check again if it was or was not Reno he had seen, offered a ride to Vincent.

"It's ok if you drop me on the garage. It has a bed, on Cid's office, and I can wait the storm ends."

"I owe you a ride and I learned a shortcut to Edge. You can show the way from there."

"Great."

They said goodbye to Cid, to the team, and both men paced towards the exit in the main area.

Then Yazoo stopped in the middle of his way out. Vincent whispered on his ears he would wait for him outside and Yazoo just nodded his head. He knew he had seen Reno and there he was, making out with another man, curiously red-haired too. The guy whispered something on his ear, hands caressing Reno's waist and eventually his back. They kissed each other and only broke the kiss when the same ponytail girl from the club, approached them and pulled Reno's hair. She brought along with her another girl with pink hair and very looked alike Cloud. Reno turned his body to greet her, leaning on his boyfriend who enlaced his waist.

It was when he saw Yazoo staring at him with his blank expression on the other side of the salon. The redhead wide opened his eyes, straightened his body, pulling out the other man's hand out of his waist. Yazoo bet Reno had cursed and turned his back at the scene.

At seeing Reno with another man, ultimately proved Yazoo has failed. The Turk should have tons of lovers scattered around Gaia. Yazoo just happened to be another one; someday maybe they would have another round. Or not.

Somehow, Yazoo understood it was not his fault, neither Reno to the point of not feel jealousy but an empty void on his stomach, a mix between wounded pride and disappointment. He proved his theory. He had always been apathetic towards the sex subject before for a motive; interaction was not for him.

On the other side of the saloon, Reno was sure Yazoo made his 'humph' when he turned his back and followed to the exit. He excused himself with Axel, crossed the bar, pushing out people of his way, and still had time to catch Yazoo's arm. They stared at each other, Reno gasping for air and Yazoo with his face red as a tomato and dull eyes at him. It was awkward because usually, Reno did not have that kind of attitude. He would wave at him from his spot and would let it pass, though Yazoo was the last person he would expect to meet there in Old Man's House. Also, he did not want to hurt the young's feelings.

"Hey, I wouldn't imagine seeing you here. I came back today; my work really took me all that time."

Yazoo did not know what to say and shrugged his shoulders.

"You don't owe me explanations, Reno."

He was disappointed but he was not mad at Reno. He expected it from him and maybe it was really better in this way. Time for ending the adventurous Turk's affair and starting to focus on his ordinary life as…ordinary.

"Do you wanna join me? The guys are cool, you'd enjoy."

"No thanks but have a good night, Reno."

Yazoo gave him a smile and was up to turn his back at the man when Reno enlaced him by his waist in a hug from behind.

"Hey, I missed you. Seriously, but life went on, you know?"

"Oh, I can see."

Yazoo gently broke the embrace and waved his head at the pretty redhead in the other corner of the bar.

"I'm sorry; it was not the first thing I did when I came back, right?"

Reno pouted and bowed his head back as if pretending that Yazoo had stabbed him on his chest. Yazoo chuckled, and Reno came closer taking a lock of Yazoo's hair on his fingers.

"Are you mad at me? Hurt?"

Yazoo stared at those lazy eyes, already blurred with alcohol and maybe some drugs, he was giving him that smile. Reno was a prick but he was sincere, it seemed that everything was so heartfelt that it almost pulled the guilty away.

"No. I'm not."

Reno stole him a kiss, and Yazoo startled thinking about the people around looking at them. It was so embarrassing to imagine that his colleagues could see it, that Vincent could be watching him.

"Stop this, Reno. It's embarrassing!"

"Can I call you tomorrow? We still have to business to discuss."

Yazoo slightly tapped on Reno's chest and shook his head with a smirk, giving some distance at them.

"I have to go now, Reno."

"We promised a second round, do you remember? Please stay, I can manage things with Axel, and he's not jealousy. I bet he would get crazy when he sees you."

Reno sniffed Yazoo's hair, with a mischievous smirk on his face, and the young rolled his eyes at him.

"Seriously, are you proposing a threesome? Oh, god you are such a pervert. I have to go, it's raining, and I promised a ride to Vincent."

Yazoo smirked, indeed he had thought that Reno would bring the idea after had kissed him. Though, Reno did not join him in the laugh. He stopped rolling Yazoo's hair through his fingers.

"Are you leaving with Valentine? I should go tell him to not mess with my princess. Hey, I'm a jealous guy."

"Oh, go fuck yourself Reno, don't start this shit again."

"Take care and watch out. Valentine is an eagle and you are my princess."

Reno spoke while caressing Yazoo's chin with his finger. Yazoo shook his head chuckling, and gently pulled Reno's hand out of his hair. He nodded his head at him and turned his back at him, taking the exit.

Reno still did not get why they went so bad together, though he liked Yazoo, and wished they would get to know each other for real. As friends. He felt uncomfortable with the situation and hoped Yazoo would not feeling hurt or other sensitive shits after had seen him there with another man.

Reno approached towards the window, and stood in front of it, watching Yazoo leave.

The redhead smirked, looking at Yazoo's buttocks, mounting on his bike. "So damn hot, we should have another chance."

On this very moment, Vincent mounted on the bike, veering his head at where Reno was standing. They exchanged a glare. Reno gasped and shook his head, still looking at the bike maneuvering to take the road. It never crossed through his mind that it could happen when Yazoo said he was leaving with Valentine. But that look on the man's face was a confirmation. His princess should be testing the equipment, and that hunk devil man would provide Yazoo the test drive.

"Motherfucker, he would fuck the princess."

Yazoo looked up at the sky in the exact time when a perfect ray fell, far away in the desert, and close to his home.

He rolled his eyes, thinking that Loz should have forgotten to lock the damned pantry's door and Yazoo huffed, thinking about his tools and motor's pieces, wet by now. The storm would get stronger, but he still would have time to get to his home safely, but not through the shortcut to leave Vincent in Edge.

"Are you sure you want to leave? I don't want to spoil your night."

Vincent was standing outside; closer to Yazoo's bike, he probably had seen him and Reno talking.

"You're not spoiling anything. It's a shorter way if we go to my home. We won't make it till Edge. Sorry."

Vincent nodded his head, promptly sitting on the bike's ride. The rain was already falling in thin drops.

"I'll accept, can't go around with the rays."

Vincent said bouncing his armored hand. It would be good to have company and Vincent was a quiet and welcome presence. Yazoo smiled at the man and mounted on his bike.

"Let's get home, Mr. Valentine."

Loz had the bad habit of forgetting the pantry's door open, and Yazoo always complained, but tonight it was a blessing. They parked inside the tight shelter, escaping from the rays, that was falling very close to them.

They were about fifteen minutes in there shrinking themselves in the refuge. The electric thunders were crossing the backyard; the loud noise was shaking the old wood of the shelter, though not a single drop of rain. What a weird planet. They said the electric storm started after the meteor fall, which means after Sephiroth.

"I guess you'll have to sleep over, Vincent."

It was hot in there or he was feeling as if it were because Yazoo felt sweat running down his front head. He opened his jacket.

"Yeah. Thanks, Yazoo."

Yazoo nodded; trying hard to focus on anything else that was not Vincent's neck and lips. It was so inappropriate to look at the man in that way that he veered his head, pretending he was looking at the wood's slits in the wall. "Why the fuck are you doing this Yazoo? Because Reno pranked you, faking a fit of jealousy he doesn't have for real?"

Maybe it was not only that.

Several times, Vincent's metallic hand, squeezed his hips; to guide him through a better trail in the dark road because he was running too fast and the wind made it impossible to hear what Vincent was saying. He should have felt angry with those clenching, driving him to go straight or turn left, as if Yazoo did not know how to get to his own home. However, his reaction was surprisingly the opposite of irritation. At each touching, he felt an instant heat ran up from his hips to his neck. Why? Maybe it was because he had seen Reno making out with another man and Yazoo remembered the sensation of warmth against his skin. That part of being with someone, the connection, he had truly enjoyed, but it did not last. Maybe if they had more hugging and kissing, his first time would not have to be so disappointing.

"It's above us now. Which means we can leave soon."

Vincent's low voice brought him back from his thoughts and he lifted his eyes at the man.

Valentine had opened his leather jacket and the first two buttons of his black shirt, revealing part of his chest line. He stepped forward trying to peek through one of the wood's slits above Yazoo's head.

"Good."

Vincent stopped exactly in Yazoo's eye line, who stared at his collarbone. The pale skin contrasting with the dark fabric and shapely muscles were so enticing to see and touch that Yazoo wished to do it. It was such a fast thought that he deep breathed and crossed his hand over his forehead. He shocked himself. Vincent mumbled something that he did not understand.

"What?"

He unintentionally bumped on Yazoo. They were squashing themselves in the place.

"The road lightened again."

Yazoo just nodded at him. "Damn his scent."

It came across Yazoo's nostrils and made him avert his face to look at his boots. The desire to touch the man was getting stronger than he would like, harder to control. The firmly hold over his hips was so good to feel. He wondered about his crazy theory over sex and rolled his eyes, thinking that he would be wrong. He failed with Reno, but he has clearly desired Vincent. The very thought made him shiver. Images of his past dream with Vincent crossed his mind, making him blush in shame to look at the man.

Following that line of argument, Yazoo wondered how Vincent would be like on intimates moments. Would the gilded claw hurt or it would it be pleasant if controlled? He was tall; would it hurt if Yazoo were the bottom? Would he do gay sex? Was he gay? He has never seen Vincent with someone. Actually, despite the time and conditions they had known each other, Yazoo did not know about the man's personal life. "What? Stop thinking that now, Yazoo."

Yazoo deep inhaled, shook his head again, to erase those images from his mind, forgetting of Vincent watching him. He was feeling so hot, feverish as if he was steeping on lava. His cheeks burned, his hair glued on his nape.

"Is everything ok Yazoo?"

Yazoo lifted his head to look at Vincent's eyes; clear red, not the usual dark crimson color. It was not the right moment for thinking about sex, standing so close to the man.

"Heat. It is hot in here, doesn't it?

Vincent got impossible closer of his face, asserting with his head and staring at Yazoo with concerned eyes.

"Are you scared?"

Shaking his head, Yazoo froze staring at Vincent's lips, dangerously close. Some seconds passed with them looking at each other. Time enough to Yazoo blatantly stop thinking about everything else, even if it was the right thing to do and kiss the man.

Surprised, Vincent wide opened his eyes and looked at Yazoo glued on his lips.

"Hun?"

Vincent had no idea about how to react. Yazoo had those huge green eyes, anxiously looking at him in expectation. How in the hell, Vincent would know what to do?

He was Loz's brother, so young, and god forbid him thinking it was alluring. Somehow, it felt wrong, if he thought about Yazoo as some sort of Lucrecia's grandson. No, Yazoo was not a remnant; he was a person with nothing related to Sephiroth, aside from shared alien's cells, though it was still not right. Right? He was not thinking accurately since the past weeks, and staring at Yazoo; the only reasonable thought that occurred him was to control his hand, to not doing something, he could regret it later. Kiss Yazoo back or push him away?

After some uncomfortable seconds, Yazoo slowly pulled away from Vincent. He gasped, feeling lost at that very small place with nowhere to run with Valentine staring at him with his eyes very red. It came to Yazoo that Vincent was not gay and he would probably have not punched him because they were friends, better saying, he was Loz's friend.

"S-sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."

Vincent could clearly say that Yazoo would stop breathing by the red on his cheeks.

He just nodded his head at the apologies and took a step back. He went to the wooden slit to check the storm, just to veer his head and not look at Yazoo. He was embarrassed and actually, Vincent felt lost at words; he was still processing how to act. For a while, the best they could do was get out of the constricting pantry and do not touch the issue.

"I guess we can leave now."

Yazoo downed his head and quickly paced to the exit, pushing the door, and looking at the sky. Mostly part of the storm was already moving across the desert. Vincent was behind him and as if he had eyes on his back, Yazoo could feel the man's glares at his neck. "Shit what have I done…"

"We can run to your porch. Do you have the keys with you Yazoo?"

Yazoo nodded at him and pulled the keys out of his pants. They ran to reach the porch and a ray fell close to them. They stared at each other and Yazoo fumbled to open the door, when another ray fell down, lifting in the air the rusted chairs in the yard.

Surely, it could not be more humiliating for both men because there was no chance to Vincent go away.