#13

Rufus looked curiously at the cigarette left propped on a makeshift ashtray on the table in front of him. It was one of Reno's. He could recognize the scent of the smoke--a light scent that wasn't quite as bad as some of the smoke he'd smell at those parties of his father's.

Still, Reno never seemed to smoke inside; even when it was allowed to do so. It made him curious as to why. Tseng did on the rare occasion that he smoked his own cigarettes, which was never when he was around Reno.

A faint glow from the one end told him that the stick was still lit. Reno must not have stabbed it out completely when he left. He picked it up and held it between two fingers like he had seen Reno do so many times before.

What was it that those girls were always laughing about at the parties? When they'd offer him a bite of their treats, then giggle to themselves? Something about an indirect kiss?

He touched the cigarette to his lips, only to see a hand snatch it out of his from above. "Your father would kill me if he thought I let you do that."

Reno swept around him, a whirl of dark blue and red. Rufus bit down on his lower lip as he watched his bodyguard settle in the chair near the table, cigarette already between his lips. "Why?"

Reno looked up at the younger boy in front of him, startled to even get the question. "Because it'll kill you in the long run, brat. That and he thinks I'm a bad influence on you as it is," he replied as he reached over to flick the ashes on the tip into the tray.

Rufus opened his mouth to say something, then just nodded. Of course, Reno was right. His father did think the younger of his two bodyguards was a horrible influence on his son. He smoked, drank too much, had a smart mouth, swore too much. Whatever the reason for the moment, there was always something wrong with Reno. But he did his job with such efficiency that it was hard to not give him important assignments like baby-sitting the Shinra heir on a trip to the conquered Wutai.

The trip alone gave Rufus far more insight into his bodyguard's mind, though. Tseng had a mission to complete in Junon, so Reno was stuck as the only Turk on this mission. He wasn't happy about not having Tseng around, Rufus could tell, but the trip was good for him.

There was something stare-worthy about looking out your window in the early hours of the morning to see one of the Turks' most dangerous men in the garden outside echoing a bird's whistles or trying to encourage some furry little creature that it was safe to take the treat from his hand. Not that it should have surprised Rufus. Reno was brash and insubordinate, but he wasn't cruel. Even when he killed, he did it quickly. Mercifully.

Still, Rufus hadn't ever pictured Reno to be quite that gentle. And that was what had led him to his train of thoughts when he picked up that cigarette. Was Reno that gentle with the people he cared about? Would his kisses be light like they were in the stories those girls read? Or would they be as rough and clumsy as those of the girl that so desperately wanted to show him how much she cared the month before?

Why he was concerned with how well his bodyguard kissed was something he didn't even want to figure out at the moment.

"Got something for you." Rufus started, then looked back up at Reno's face to see the small wrapped candy held in the hand opposite the cigarette. He reached a hand forward hesitantly; the move enough for Reno to pick up his unease.. "It's not poison, kid. It's the absolutely best flavor candy in the world. And it's the last one I've got right now."

Hard candy, by the looks of the wrapper, Rufus noted as he plucked it from the other's hand. He eyed it a moment, turning it over in his hand as he tried to make sense of the characters written on the outside. "What is it?"

Reno grinned playfully. "Just try it. I can guarantee it tastes better than this thing would." He held up the cigarette before placing it back between his lips.

Rufus stared at the candy a moment longer before unwrapping it and slipping the round piece into his mouth. He paused a moment with the taste of the flavor. Sweet, but not sugary sweet...

"What is it? I don't recognize the flavor."

Reno smiled. "Plum. I usually get the candies at a little shop near my place in Midgar, but apparently the fruit they're flavored like is native to this place. Consider yourself very privileged. I don't part with my candy easily."

He was serious, Rufus thought as he sucked on the candy. "So, what do you want?"

Reno shook his head. "Nothing. Just figured you could use something to make you smile since you've been grumpy this whole trip, even for you."

That wasn't right. People didn't do something for nothing, particularly something like giving up the last piece of their favorite candy. Particularly for someone they never seemed to care...

Reno stabbed out his cigarette and pushed himself to his feet. Rufus felt a hand on his hair as the Turk did so, then tilted his head back to look up the short gap between them.

"You sure you don't want me there at this dinner?"

The boy stared at his bodyguard a moment before he felt his cheeks start to color from the closeness. It shouldn't bother him, being close like this. Reno was always close to him when they were together outside. Something about it being better to deter would-be assassins before they got the idea than let them close enough to get caught. Maybe it was the air here. Or being able to pick up the faint trace of the soap Reno must have used that morning.

"I'll be fine. You deserve the night off for running around this place all day with me..."

"And your father's afraid I'll embarrass you." Reno grinned before pulling his hand away and stepping off the low porch. "I'll behave. Call me if you need anything."