Disclaimer: Yet again, I don't own Final Fantasy or any related materials. That's too bad, huh? In tradition with my other Reno x Rufus fanfics, this one too is named after a Clay Aiken song so I don't own the title either. That's pretty sad. Amazing, but sad.
No More Sad Songs
By: Nanaki BH
"How could you not have known this would happen?"
The vice president's shoes slapped noisily against the wet pavement. He was in a rather irritable mood. He had left his comfortable warm room at the Kalm Inn just to go looking for that irritating Turk. What a bad idea that had been, he mused. He had traveled a good distance through the quiet town until he had finally captured a glimpse of his fiery hair through a pub window. Why he had been searching for him in the first place puzzled him. He could vaguely remember a sense of loneliness in his desolate room. Something seemed unfulfilled. He had quickly chastised himself for even considering his colleague to be company. He growled; his damn emotions were the sole reason for why he was caught in this miserable situation. He was just about fed up with walking in the rain by now. It was a long way back to the inn. He hoped it wasn't a bother to Reno. He looked behind himself and saw Reno's sullen expression. Yes, he was most undoubtedly a bother. Well, he wouldn't have left if he'd known it was going to rain. He stopped abruptly and sat himself down pitifully on the sidewalk, his feet resting over a gutter. He ran a hand shakily, possibly from the cold of the heavy rain, over his face. The mere action seemed one of defeat, but was rather just to wipe some bothersome water from his eyes. His hair was already beyond salvaging.
"How did you not know, Reno?" He questioned quietly. Somehow he felt his question had changed. Was he really speaking of the weather anymore? Surely he wasn't blaming this on Reno... No longer did he feel angry. He felt weak and oddly used. He looked up, a bit of his soaked blonde hair falling in front of his face again in the process. Reno's mood could rival the weather itself. He did not show any outward sign of anger, but there was an unnerving aura of cruelty about him. Rufus figured that was what made him a Turk.
The silence was soon broken. Reno's voice was like the thunder in the distance; always far, but still powerful and frightening. It was a sound that certainly couldn't hurt you but made you aware of coming danger. "Mr. Vice President, are you holding me accountable for the weather?" Rufus could feel his own cheeks blush. It was a tingling sort of feeling and it grabbed at his chest. He hadn't meant it like that, had he? He was sure he didn't. His question invoked another kind of answer, as to what was still confusing him though. Right now, he found himself in a bad position. All he wanted was company. That much he knew. He was usually fine by himself, but he knew Reno was a good source of entertainment.
"Really, sir, what did you want me for?" There was the impossible question. His own reasons were unknown to him. How did he manage to drag himself away from a warm building; a bar to make that even better? Rufus kicked at a nearby puddle that had formed around the gutter he was seated over. Reno shook his head and sat down next to Rufus. Rufus's eyes felt magnetically pulled to his lap. Out of the corner of his eye, he was sure Reno had smiled. "Hm?" he pressed. Cold rain still stung his skin, but he felt the warmth in Reno's voice. He realized now that Reno was still expecting an answer. "I'm sorry, Reno," he whispered. "You know, I," he bit his lip in concentration. He could feel a bitter sting at the corner of his eyes. He wondered briefly if he was crying, or perhaps it was just the rain. "I," he started. He noticed the crack in his voice and it caused him to jump slightly. Had he really been crying, he wondered. Rufus shuddered when a warm hand patted his shoulder firmly. He smiled; Reno was simply reassuring him, of what he wasn't quite certain...
Reno's hand was soon replaced by a strong arm over Rufus' shoulders. Rufus found himself being pulled to a warm, but equally drenched body. He was almost tempted to laugh. Reno had appeared so furious only a few seconds ago and now there was something almost endearing about him. Unconsciously, he closed his eyes and sank closer to Reno. "I don't think I caught that reason, Mr. Vice. What was it?" His humid breath puffed hot clouds against Rufus's cheek. His mind was forced in opposite directions; complete shut down, or find an answer. Right about then his mind was begging for this first proposition. He cursed his body's natural reaction to exhaustion. He gave his mind one last quick sweep before finally, he blurted out "I was lonely." He noticed numbly that Reno had not yet responded. He started to panic soon after, now fully aware of what he'd said. He hadn't realized he'd tensed up until Reno started to gently massage his shoulder.
"So what you're saying is..." he drawled suggestively. Rufus's eyes flew open. He jerked in the Turk's hold.
He shook his head vigorously. "No," he gasped, "not like that!" His cheeks flushed an incredible shade of red. Reno clearly noticed this and grinned. The young vice realized his new pitiful position. He stood and flung his sopping hair from his delicate visage. In an attempt to regain his regal appearance he failed miserably. It was not only the most obvious of his outward appearance either. Somehow his mannerism fell short as well and made him look no more 'regal' than anyone else in the town. As the rain beat on his tired body, he appeared as nothing short of a wet puppy.
"Cold and wet doesn't work for you," Reno said, laughing. "Now what were you angry over? Remember, I should be the angry one. You tore me away from a dry building. Not to mention, though I will, you stole me away from my beer! What kind of a man does that?" Rufus was about to retaliate but a rather large burst of thunder completely shocked him and effectively stopped any protest he was about to make. He jumped visibly and ducked, half expecting to be struck by the lightening that followed. Reno laughed. "It's just some thunder, you're fine."
Despite Reno's jest, Rufus did not look amused. He swayed before falling to his knees and slamming his hands to the ground. He was only able to realize just faintly that his pristine white clothes were now horribly marred and dirty. He punched the ground once. Mud and water splashed violently around his fist. He recognized the sting in his eyes and this time admitted to himself that he was crying. "Dammit, Reno..." he whimpered, quietly. "I love you!"
A dreadful silence followed. Rufus gasped; his eyes wide. He shook his head and clenched his eyes tight. His mind was screaming that what he said wasn't the truth, but inside he felt a burning that told him it indeed was. Another flash of lightening and a powerful crack of thunder lit up the deserted street and in that moment, Rufus slammed his palms to the drenched Earth one last time and finally collapsed.
Author's Notes: Why did I make that a chapter? Because I have a lot more... Maybe not that much, but it's a decent amount. I don't feel like finding a way to put together the two parts in a one-shot anyway. Tell me how you like it so far!