Could it be
by Diane Kelley
Summary: Shinra party leads to two partners discovering they feel more about each other than they thought. warning: Reno/Rude shounen-ai fluff ahead. you can't say you weren't warned. timeframe: approximately 6 months post ac.
"Ugh, do I hafta wear this thing? It constricts at the neck, and they'd never recognize me in formal dress." The redhead gave his bald partner a look that clearly said he hoped Rude would say "Tie optional".
"Sorry, partner. You know when the boss says black tie he MEANS it." The big bald Turk also adjusted his own tie, sighing in something like disgust. Despite that he kept his uniform during work hours extraordinarily neat, it didn't mean he LIKED wearing dress clothes. "Besides, Reno, by the time the dancing starts you'll be plastered enough not to notice the tie, anyway."
Reno had to snort out a laugh at that statement, Rude was right, as always, about that. If there was one good thing about Rufus' parties, he always had good booze, and plenty of it. The brat princeling had learned well how to keep his workers happy.
They arrived at the party, fashionably late, of course, to find Tifa tending bar and Elena standing next to Tseng eyeing the two partners speculatively, as if she knew something even they didn't. When the first song began playing, Rufus dragged Reeve out onto the floor, it was a sweet, romantic song about the discovery of first love. Elena similarly dragged Tseng out, and she winked at Reno and Rude, whispering. "It's not like they'll notice you two out there when Rufus is out there with Reeve anyway." and shoved the two of them out there together.
As the two suddenly found themselves out in the very center of the dance floor, the sweet, high-pitched, feminine voice and romantic lyrics actually made them both smile. Reno set his head on Rude's shoulder, allowing his long-time friend and partner in just about all things to set the pace.
I know we've been friends forever
But now I think I'm feelin' somethin' totally new.
And after all this time
I've opened up my eyes
and I see you were always with me.
Rude as he set his hand on his partner's back felt his heart seem to jump. Could it be true? Could the one he was looking for have been right in front of his face the whole time and he'd just never seen it? When Reno lifted his head and looked up into his dark eyes with those pale, mint-green orbs, it seemed as if those life-stream colored eyes swallowed him whole with the sudden intense honest yearning in them.
Could it be you and I never imagined?
Could it be suddenly I'm fallin' for you?
Could it be
You were right here beside me?
And I never knew?
Could it be that it's true
That it's you?
Reno's lips lifted into a somewhat sardonic smile as he began to whisper the lyrics into Rude's warm, musky-smelling skin. It said it all...the sudden discovery of why no one had ever managed to keep his attention for more than perhaps a week at best. None of them ever stood against the unconscious standard of steadfastness and loyalty that had been set by the man he leaned against. To be honest, he'd never thought it would be a MAN to set that standard, but what he felt now transcended even that barrier.
Kinda funny you were always near.
But who'da ever thought that we would end up here?
And every time I needed you
You've been there for me through
now it's clear
I was waiting for you!
As the second chorus played their lips suddenly met right there in the middle of the floor, and it was as if everyone else in the huge ballroom just seemed to fall away. The sudden hoots of approval and shouted statemnents of "We knew it all along!" seened distant, but they were still so sweet to the ear.
Could it be you and I never imagined?
Could it be suddenly I'm fallin' for you?
Could it be
You were right here beside me?
And I never knew?
Could it be that it's true
That it's you?
Tifa poked Cloud's shoulder, her smile a mile wide. "Well would you just look at that? Can't say you didn't see THAT coming."
Cloud couldn't help but smile himself. "So that's why he never settled down. No one else was never quite 'Good enough' but he never could see it until tonight."
Today is the start of the rest of our lives
I see it in your eyes.
And it's real and it's true
And it's just me and you
Could it be that it's you?
The sudden explosion of cheers as the kiss became more heated suddenly brought the two back to reality. "It's true, yo. ..this is the start of the life that shoulda been ours all along. I never thanked you for all the times you stood by me, despite how many stupid things I've done. So, thank ya, partner."
Rude smiled as they broke the kiss off and whispered "You're welcome"
Could it be you and I never imagined?
Could it be suddenly I'm fallin' for you?
Could it be
You were right here beside me?
And I never knew?
Could it be that it's true
That it's you?
