Go the distance

a songfic dedicated to Faestein's FF7 novellette "A little night music"

It had been a year. ..a year since that horrid night. This was only the second time he had sat at his piano since that night, this time. .this time a soft smile touched his lips. ..he knew what would be perfect to show how far he had come.

I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

Memories spun through his head as he played..Rude's voice as he'd hung dying in that freezer, calling him back toward life. The Big Man had brought him back again and again, every time he'd felt like falling. He could never give him enough words of thanks for that, Tears touched those green eyes as he remembered their first night together after. ..Rude, as always so gentle. ..so wonderfully gentle with his shy, frightened lover. . .another thing he owed his partner more than he could say for.

I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong

It had been worth every battle. .every struggle. ..every mile to be where he was now. To come as far as he had, to still be alive not only in body, but in mind and heart as well. Those tears fell now, wet spots against ivory keys, but it seemed he didn't even notice it. .he had come full circle, and it felt so wonderful. To be whole, to know how to love and feel after something so horrendous.

Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though the road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It may take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through

Another memory. ..Rude telling him the myth of Shiva and Ifrit as he claimed yet another hurdle on the road to recovery. .again he'd been so very gentle and Reno loved him for it. There were very few who knew how tender the big bruiser of a Turk could be, but Reno knew. ..he knew it very well. It was how Reno had come as far as he had. If Rude had not been with him along every step, he would never have made it this far, and he knew it.

And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete

He hadn't looked back, either. .he refused to go back to that frightened boy he had been again. He had the Big Man to protect him now, and he'd gotten a brother out of th edeal, too, which made things all the sweeter.

But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart

Like a shooting star
I can go the distance
I will search the world
I will face its harms
I don't care how far
I can go the distance
TillI find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

"Reno" that sweet whiskey on velvet voice spoke his name from the bedroom. "Bed time, Little Big Man, we got an early shift in the morning."

I have searched the world
I have faced its harms
Now I've found my hero's welcome
Right here in your arms.

Reno whispered out the final stanza of what he had been playing as he buried his head into the broad chest, taking in that sweet, musky scent as his eyes drifted closed.