Author's Notes: This one is a thirty-minute challenge and it must involve an actual getting brighter, not like lightning bolt. Somehow became the aftermath of Club

Theme: Lightening

The Straw

The metaphorical straw that broke the camel's back had not come, in fact, it felt as if the other things were taken away so that the straw didn't matter. It was almost as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest. Every muscle in his body relaxed, and he almost felt calm enough to sleep like he hadn't slept in years.

Or at least, it would have felt like that, had there not been for the look upon Tseng's face.

"You WHAT?"

"I slept with Reno and Rude," he replied. A hand moved without his notice to brush over where bruises marked his skin under his sleeves.

The Wutain cleared his throat a bit, as if trying to buy enough time to process all of this. "And why, pray tell, did you do that?"

"Well, you see, Reno invited me to go to a club with them the other night, and I said yes to shut him up. And then Reno came over and dressed me up so that I almost looked flamingly gay. Then they took me to a club, and I think I got drunk and high for the first time. After that I danced with Reno and we went into the back room and… You know… When that was done we went to hang out with Rude. Details after that are kinda fuzzy until when we got to the inn. I gotta say, it was an interesting weekend."

Reeve was almost proud that, for the first time in his life, Tseng really didn't seem to have an answer for him.

"It was actually quite a relaxing weekend now that I think about it. None of the problems of the Planet and Shin-Ra bugged me for the whole night. It is like I'm a teen again Tseng. I haven't felt like this in twenty years."

Finally Tseng tried to speak, but his mouth only opened and closed, no sound issuing from them. Because of this Reeve attempted a line he had heard Reno use on Tseng once.

"Tseng, close your mouth or I might get the wrong idea about your intentions."

Were Tseng anything other than a Turk he might have passed out. Yet as it was, Tseng was still standing.

At last Tseng could speak, "Reeve, did they know that…"

"I was a virgin?" Reeve shook his head.

"Oh Leviathan," the Wutain swore, moving away from his friend. "I don't care if you feel like a new man or any of that shit, you're not doing it again."

"I'm a grown man Tseng, you can't tell me what I can and cannot do."

"I can tell Reno and Rude."

"I have higher rank than you. I can over rule your decisions in this case," the executive pointed out. He was looking forward to some time with the two Turks again.

Tseng shook his head and stood. He was not going to take this any more, "Reeve… Just go, okay?"

The executive was shocked. Never before had Tseng kicked his friend out of his office unless it was because Tseng was handling classified information.

"Alright then," the older male responded, "I can take the hint."

With this said he left the room. The burden, which had been lightened for a second, had returned full force and then some. He was happy for now, couldn't Tseng accept that? Not since before Shin-Ra and Midgar had Reeve felt so content, even positive about the future. And how quickly it had been crushed by the one person he thought he could trust. Then again, he was sure that Tseng had a good reason. The Wutain ALWAYS had a good reason.

This was a matter that would require a lot of thought. That wasn't good really, because whenever Reeve sat down and really thought about it the burdens felt heavier. Now the depressed executive fled to his office, unwilling to stick around anywhere that would cause socialization. Once in his office he used the intercom to tell his secretary that he did not want to be disturbed for a while, even by Rufus. This done he used the dimmer on the lights in his office to diminish the light.

Figures, does it not? For the first time in years he had been happy. Sure, it had been booze, drug, and sex induced, but it was happy wasn't it? Or was it? He could understand where Tseng was coming from, kinda. Reeve laid back on his black leather couch and looked up at the dark ceiling. What Tseng was thinking was that spending a lot of time with Reno at clubs like that could lead to addictions. And Reeve was the kind of person that an addiction would kill. Were those few moments of bliss at night worth the pain that could ultimately come? Wouldn't his death be a burden on others? Not just the company, but the people of Midgar. They'd end up with someone that would not care less about them. And if someone that could care less about the city were in charge of it…Was it really something he was willing to risk?

Did not the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the Reeve? Shouldn't his own happiness be sacrificed for the good of the people of Midgar? But where did that leave him? Sorrow would lead to ineptitude at work, which would hurt the people even more. What was he to do?

Those few seconds where the load had seemed lighter had passed totally now, no longer even a memory in his mind. Now it was all heavier, because he knew what he had to do for his own good, and for that of the city. Too bad it would leave him just as miserable and alone as he was now. Maybe one day he'd be able to be happy, but not with Shin-Ra in power. For now he'd have to make whatever sacrifice was needed, not so he could be happy, but so he could do the right thing.

Too bad the right thing hurt far too much.

The lights slowly grew stronger, stirring Reeve from his thoughts. His eyes flew to the door and the one there, the one causing the room to lighten enough for real sight.

"Reeve," Tseng said softly, "Listen, I'm sorry."

"No, you're right," Reeve said, sitting up. "I won't do it again."

The Wutain moved to sit next to him on the couch. "You know, it's not that you shouldn't have fun, it's just that such 'fun' is destructive. You could die. I'm not sure what the city would be like if you died. I'm not sure what I would be like if you died."

The executive looked up into the eyes of his best friend and smiled, "Thanks Tseng."

"I'll watch out for you okay? I'll try to make it so that you still get a little bit of fun, okay?"

Reeve's smile widened, and the burden, the weight on his chest, seemed to lighten once more. Now he knew, no matter his choice, he'd still have friends to back him up all the way.

"And really, if you want to sleep with Reno and Rude, well that is fine with me, as long as you don't go out clubbing and you are careful. Okay?"

The executive punched Tseng in the shoulder and chuckled.