Second Chance
Kagura Kyo Shinra
Warning: This story has shounen-ai. So if you don't like homosexual males, you shouldn't read it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I take no responsibility for these characters or Final Fantasy or anything except this story.
Part Eight: A Second Encounter
Ever since Marie found out how Rufus felt about Tseng, Rufus spent all his time worrying. It would be tragic if his expression of love for Tseng came out of Marie's stinging mouth. He knew it would only be a matter of time before she told, and Rufus felt that if he wanted to avoid that, he'd have to gather up his courage.
"I've been looking for you," Rufus said as he entered the same parlor where he and Tseng had argued before.
"I've been here," Tseng shrugged. "Oh, and I've worked out a plan for the Black Death. Marie and I will go tomorrow . . ."
"Only you and Marie?" Rufus interrupted. "Shouldn't you take the others?"
"I don't think it's necessary, and neither does Marie."
"But . . . I don't entirely trust her," Rufus whispered.
Tseng stared at him darkly. "Is that why you came here? To tell me all your theories again. I know why you suddenly don't like her. She told me."
Rufus' heart tightened. Had she already told Tseng?
"She did?"
"She told me all about your advances on her that first night she returned, and how she rejected you, and how you threatened you'd make her life here miserable until she gave in."
"What?" Rufus choked. "I never made any advances toward her. I've never been attracted to her."
"Say what you want, but I'm not going to let you get your way this time, Rufus. I've given you everything you wanted, but this time, I'm saying no."
"Damnit," Rufus hissed. "She messes everything up. I didn't come her to argue with you, but she made sure that we would argue, didn't she?"
"Don't blame all this on her!" Tseng shouted.
"I thought you didn't like her like that anymore. Why do you kept protecting her?"
"Because she hears me."
"What? I hear you too. Damnit, I don't want to argue. I came here to tell you something important."
"Well, get to it then!" Tseng yelled.
"I don't wanna yell it!" Rufus yelled back.
"Just say it!"
"I can't stop thinking about you!" Rufus screamed.
"What?" Tseng barked.
Rufus took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Marie had made sure that Rufus couldn't get to tell Tseng in his own way, but he wasn't going to scream his feelings at Tseng.
"And every time I try to stop, I think about you even harder. Your perfect hair, perfect smile, the way you run when you're chasing someone, your brilliant mind, everything about you . . . I think about it always."
Tseng turned away from him. The time seemed to crawl by like a snail. Rufus wanted to scream at Tseng to say something, but he couldn't open his mouth. Finally, Tseng turned back to him, but to Rufus horror, there was an angry scowl across his face.
"Why do you do things like this? Is it because you're bored, or just because you're a bastard?"
"What? Tseng, I just told you that I . . ."
"Save it. Save it for somebody who believes your lies."
"I'm not lying. I've felt this way for a long time, even when I was just a kid, but you were so interested in Marie, and then I became obsessed with the business."
"Stop it!" Tseng bellowed. "Stop speaking all these lies! I'm not going to fall for them again. I won't fall for those brilliant eyes or that soft voice or anything!"
"When did you fall before?" Rufus asked. "Tell me what you're talking about."
"You know very well what I'm talking about. You've done it before Rufus, made me believe you cared, and then just pulled it away."
"When did I pull it away?"
"That night in your office! I was telling you everything about how I felt for you, but you didn't listen to a word. I wasn't important enough to listen to, and now you're sitting here, telling me you care for me, you cared for me that night? You're joking!"
"I . . . I'm sorry. I know I was a jerk then, but I've changed . . . wait, you were going to tell me what back then? That you care for me?" Rufus stepped forward, his heart racing. "Tseng, do you?"
Tseng looked away. "Yeah, I'll admit it. I've never cared for anyone the way I care for you, but you'll never really want me the same way I want you."
"I just told you . . ."
"Fine, Rufus. I'll accept that maybe you want me the same way a little boy wants a puppy, but that's not the same."
"Tseng," Rufus said helplessly. His eyes began to water, and he could barely speak anymore. "I'm telling you the truth."
"I've got to go brief Marie on our mission tomorrow."
Rufus reached out and grabbed Tseng's arm, but Tseng quickly jerked away knocking the younger man off balance. Rufus tripped forward and landed on his knees, head down and tears beginning to fall.
"I'm not giving in, Rufus. I won't allow myself to hurt again. You've done it too many times before."
Rufus tried to speak, but it wasn't until after Tseng had left, slamming the door, that he could finally form words.
"I never did anything to hurt you . . ."
TBC . . .