#2
"Come on, brat, time to get up!"
Rufus blinked his eyes open, then immediately regretted it as the morning sun nearly blinded him. A shadow moved into the way of the light, and as he forced his vision to focus, he saw the way the sun caught on already fiery red hair. "Reno?"
"Who else gets to call you brat and not die for it? Come on, I've got some coffee on for you, and a shower should help you feel better. Tseng'll make breakfast if you feel up to it."
Rufus nodded, then smiled as he watched Reno.
My Turks.
Even after the way he acted the night before, Reno was still here...still acting like he always did.
"The old man went back to Midgar with Veld and Heidegger. Apparently there's something going on that he's worried about, but not worried enough to take us with him yet..."
"...so I get to put up with your insubordinate mouth another day?"
Reno laughed. "I'm hurt, Rufus. You say that like it's a bad thing."
Rufus smiled again. If only the alcohol were still there to give him the courage, he would have shown Reno exactly how upset he was to put up with him for another day.
A hand patted his shoulder. "Come on, shower, coffee, and food. In whatever order you want."
Rufus pushed himself up as Reno went to close the curtains and block the sun some. "Reno, about last night..."
"You were drunk, don't worry about it."
"I...yeah, thanks." He plucked at the blanket still over his legs a moment when red hair and a blue suit suddenly appeared in front of him again. "Reno..."
"You know I'm always here for you, just can't be that way."
Rufus felt his eyes widen as a hand touched his cheek lightly. There were moments when Reno was serious. They were rare, but they happened. Those Mako-tinged eyes lost some of their light, and his expression softened. Not the screw-up of the Turks anymore, this was the Reno that would sit with him and tell stories to make him laugh. This was the Reno that he always wanted...the one that actually seemed to care about him.
Rufus chewed on his lower lip a moment, then nodded. "I understand."