"I fucked up, boss. Big boss gonna kill me, I just know it." Reno groans when Tseng entered his room.
"Describe to me what he is to you. Depending on your answer I may help keep Rufus' wrath from you." Tseng had been briefed of the situation.
Reno hesitated not because of the offer, instead he had to really think. He can usually process a lot of things fast, but with Cloud? He turned his world topsy turvy.
"Nothing and everything makes sense when I'm around him. As in, nothing is ever the same being next to him. He makes me wonder what else I could have done. And it, I guess made me change my ways a little towards the job? And then everything just feels right whenever we're in the same room. Like the world isn't potentially in danger."
Reno took a moment to think before he could ramble forever. Tseng patiently waited as he processed the given information. He wasn't used to seeing his subordinate like this.
"Almost feels like a crime, though. That I'm afraid of tainting him in some way. And I feel self conscious that I'm not enough for him. But the thought of him with someone else makes me mad. That time when we got drunk and Roche tried to take advantage of him? I wanted to punch the guy and cry at the same instant."
The redhead took a breath to calm himself. That incident still made his blood boil for more than just one reason. It hurt seeing them kiss, more than the fact Roche tried to take advantage of the situation. Although that pissed him off to no end.
"My first thought upon returning on missions used to be about taking hot showers and relax. But lately I've noticed that I want to see him before anyone else. Before partner even." Reno caught himself rambling and shut up.
Tseng considered everything Reno just explained very carefully. He saw a lot of things lining up with how he felt towards Rufus. Especially when he himself felt unworthy of attention being next to ShinRa's newest beacon.
"I will do my best to keep Rufus in line. Whatever happens between you two isn't for us to judge." Tseng promised.
"Wait. You serious?" Reno stared wide eyed.
"You prevented Cloud from succumbing to Sephiroth. That's special enough that I would like to see what the two of you together can accomplish. I suggest when you feel better, go to Cloud. I have his brother to distract." He left Reno to think on those words.
Tseng found Rufus berating the younger blonde. He entered the room, a side glance to Vincent who had tried to keep the atmosphere calm. But obviously he was a stranger to them so they didn't listen to him.
"Sir, we have a private matter to discuss." Tseng cleared his throat. An incident happened barely two minutes prior.
"It can wait." Rufus brushed him off.
"Not this time, sir." He presents the folder. Out of habit Rufus opens it and scanned through the many paragraphs. He turns with a sense of dread on his face.
"Are you serious?"
"Am I one to joke, sir? Now would you please, we need to discuss elsewhere." Tseng pressured, and finally the president relented.
"We'll discuss this later." Rufus promised, following Tseng.
"Leave them be." Tseng said once they were out of earshot.
"Excuse me? Are you suggesting what I think you are?"
"I am. Allow them to find out for themselves if they're good for each other. And if they turn out better than you believe, then even your words wouldn't have stopped them."
"... It's not fair. I barely begun my relationship with my brother and he's star eyed with Reno of all people." Rufus admits loud enough only for his partner to hear.
Tseng holds back a smile. He knew that already.
xXx
"... Hey. So it's the spooky vampire again." Reno greets as he entered the room. Chadley and Vincent were both standing near Cloud, who was sitting in a patient seat.
"..." Vincent silently glared.
"I'm not entirely sure if it's safe for you to be here." Chadley blinks at him.
"Then all the more reason to be here if he acts out again. You're a kid and vampire dude can protect you while I calm him down." The redhead shrugs.
"He has a point." Vincent agreed.
"...I suppose it's a private matter that you're here? I can leave for a moment." And with that Chadley leaves. Vincent followed after but remained by the one way glass window.
"Cloud?"
Blue green eyes blinked in surprise, snapping out of his thoughts. It was a shame the mako tainted those pretty blues. Even so they were still breath taking.
"Reno?" Cloud stared. He had been focusing on ignoring Sephiroth to notice him until now. It was rare for Reno to call him by his name.
"So I just had a talk with Tseng. Wanna know what he said?"
"What is it?" Cloud dreaded.
"He won't judge us if we get together. And he will try his best to keep Rufus off our backs."
"Huh?" Cloud furrowed his brows.
"I know right? It's a little insane. I myself having a bit of a hard time believing it. But we both know Tseng isn't one for jokes."
"But...we hurt each other."
"And I have no plans to hurt you again. If you give me this chance?" Reno reaches for his hand. The grip was gentle, and for a split second Cloud saw instead a gloved hand holding his. Then in a blink of an eye the glove was gone.
"I don't know if this is a good time."
"When will it ever be, though? Gaia sure likes to throw shit at us. So why not now when we're both feeling down in the dumps. And we help build each other back up?"
"That's not...it's..." A flashing headache, and he raised his hand to his head.
All too familiar lips claimed his and it brought Cloud back to focus. His panic subsided and some part of his brain clicked that Reno was right. Cloud returned the kiss and it was almost too much as they poured their hearts into it. Sensing that he was calm now Reno pulls away to stare into those pretty baby blue tainted by green.
"See? I know he still haunts you. And I don't know what he's got planned, but damn it all I don't wanna lose you to him." Determination blazed in Reno's eyes, burning brighter than his hair.
That gaze alone shattered all of Cloud's doubts. Words failed him so instead he pulls Reno in for another kiss. As things grew heated Cloud was struck with a vision and his head hurt worst than ever before.
A man in a cloak, tattoo on his arm. He appeared out of nowhere, surprising Avalanche, who had been left camping by Sephiroth's location. Before anyone can react the cloaked man gave the black materia to Sephiroth, who awoke.
And upon his awakening the planet cried and she unleashed her Weapons.
