Author's Notes: Best of You by Foo Fighters. I think I like this one. I think I really do. I enjoyed making it and I shuddered the whole time I wrote. Is that a good thing?

Theme: Heart

Faith

Crimson, orange, pink, violet, every color known for being vibrant, every cliché color of the perfect sunset was out tonight. There was no detail missed, no stops were pulled, no holds barred. The sun was setting into a calm blue sea and the sky was so surreal that you either had to be with a loved one to appreciate it, or you had to have an artist's eye. Something so fake in it's reality that you almost had to reach out to prove yourself wrong. It was perfect in every way, a sunset that you dreamt of for proposing to your lover, for sharing a quiet picnic, for just existing for a short moment in time in absolute splendor. A moment that made you believe in the Lifestream, in the gods, in the best of humanity. Such beauty was something you saw in museums and galleries, but this one was before you, painted in hopes and dreams, love and devotion, promises and bonds. Every emotion painted into one short moment of love, each emotion a different and important color. It was life in one short breath.

It was the best of sunsets, all for him. So breathtaking, so absolutely beautiful, and the way it painted the face of his lover in reds and oranges and pinks… There were no words to describe it really. Tseng's hair seemed to be ablaze with the colors, and even those dark eyes shone with a light he had never before seen in them. Reeve's greatest desire at the moment was to pull the Wutain close and just kiss the lips tinted rose by the light. He wanted to share in the sheer beauty that brought tears to his eyes.

No sooner had it come than it was gone again. The colors suddenly weren't perfect. The way the light caught the water just made him feel a bit cold instead of warm. Peering into Tseng's face made him feel empty inside instead of overflowing. And the faith he'd had for humanity, for Tseng, for himself, were washed away with the waves. It was, after all, just another sunset, just another moment. One among many, no more important than that before it nor after it, except for it was to be the last of the moments. Maybe not for him, but definitely for them.

"Beautiful," Tseng purred as the sun finally faded away, and the shudder of desire that purr always caused rushed up Reeve's back. Something about that voice always turned him to putty, and he almost hated Tseng for it. Almost.

"Quite," he did agree though, looking at Tseng instead of the sunset. It was right up there with those old cliché lines, but he couldn't help it. Somewhere inside he was still a hopeless romantic, but sadly more of the former than the latter.

When the Wutain turned and smiled at him, he could do little more than smile back. All he really wanted at the moment was to reach out and kill the Turk, take him back to their room at the inn and remind him just why they were together. It would be good too, he wouldn't regret it for a while. Hell, it'd be damn good, it always was. Never mattered how it would start, just where it would end up, and how he would feel afterwards.

There would be kisses first, fast and far too teasing for the man's liking, but well suited to the near hit and run tactics Tseng had taken up these days. Reeve's fingers would fumble with buttons while Tseng would strip him with such efficiency that Reeve could feel like little more than some report that the man was going over. The bed would bounce as with a single shove Tseng would show the former executive his place. And he would lay there as Tseng finished the task of shedding their clothes, every move precise and using the least amount of effort possible. Again their lips would meet, frantic on Reeve's part, commanding on Tseng's. With no words, no warning, Tseng would prepare him, and they would join together. Their breath would mingle and the air filled with the sounds of moaning and panting, punctuated occasionally with a growl and gasp as the Turk would claw down Reeve's chest, leaving behind scratches that were both arousing and alarming to the executive. There would be pleasure, pain, and, for a time, the most beautiful sound Reeve knew of, that of Tseng nearly crooning.

That was all there was these days. All rush, no sweet and tender kisses. They didn't share anymore. Somehow, the more passionate they became in bed, the less passion was really shared. There was no heated touches between the sheets, no explorations, no whispered words of love and devotion. Well, not from Tseng at least. Given the chance Reeve would have covered every inch of that pure skin in little open mouth kisses. He'd attack those little rosy nipples with teeth and listen to the purrs that they drew from between pearly whites. Those nights he could become drunk on all that was Tseng, and only want more. Those days Tseng would return each attention three times over with such gentle and loving accuracy that Reeve would have sworn he could have melted into Tseng and never regret it. They used to set aside hours just for making love, just for touching with no need for baser gratification. All the pleasure they could ever need or want was in each other's company, but when they did satisfy the primal needs… gods on high.

While he hated to admit to it, Reeve felt like a fool. He couldn't remember when making love had given way to sex, and when sex had been shoved aside for fucking. Tseng had always called it 'making love' though, and he'd always believed what Tseng said. Odd how that in all of his life he could never be turned into the court jester President ShinRa had wanted, but at one word from Tseng he was dancing around in a silly hat telling stupid jokes. He was chained to the man's words, actions, desires, so he'd had no reason to question any of it. Who was he to question the man who said he loved him anyway?

For a moment the thoughts and memories and suspicions were wiped away though, as Tseng leaned in to kiss him. Reeve had almost forgotten, for just a minute, how soft and sweet those lips were. There was no time to enjoy the flavor though, as Tseng pulled back for a moment, a playful look upon his face. The look didn't reach the eyes though, and it was that alone that kept Reeve from being sucked in again. As much as he wanted to spend the whole night abed with his lover, now was not the time.

"Reeve," the man purred into Reeve's ear, nibbling at the earlobe before continuing. "We've still got all night left for our little vacation. I was thinking we could spend some time alone."

"Gods Tseng," he moaned, leaning into the nibbling. So tempting to just give in one more time, feel those fingers burning over his skin, watch those eyes filled with lust for one breath and wonderful moment. He could feel wanted, desired, loved by the man he called lover.

"So is that a yes?"

"No," he groaned while his body was screaming yes with all it's might and demanding that it should be heard and obeyed.

The Turk recoiled in shock, but his expression was as cool and collected as ever. Reeve didn't say no, not to him at least, so his shock was well founded. But Reeve was almost hurt there was no real sign of the surprise. He looked just like he would have had Reeve told him they were currently in Costa Del Sol, or if he'd said Rufus wore white too much.

"No? Playing difficult tonight? Are you looking for a game? I think I brought a few toys from home…"

"No," Reeve repeated, his voice actually firm. "We need to talk."

He'd always told himself that he would never use words like that with Tseng. They were damning words, 'we need to talk'. Wars began with them, empires tumbled, husbands trembled with fear of some chore or lecture. He could remember that the last words he'd heard his mother say to his father was 'we need to talk'. At eight they hadn't thought he had a right to any of the words that came after that, and he finally knew why.

"Reeve? Is something wrong?"

Emerald eyes cast about for something to focus on other than Tseng's face. Finding nothing he sighed, looked up and met the stern gaze of a Turk, not a partner.

"This."

The word might have carried more weight if there had been silence to accompany it. Any kind of silence. The comfortable silence, the awkward silence, the long silence, the friendly silence, the silence of held breath. Any of them would have suited it all just fine. What didn't fit was the laughing of children, the call of vendors attempting to sell their wares, and the cat calls that came from a few bodacious females who seemed to be enjoying their little display of intimacy.

"What do you mean?"

How could Reeve explain it? The looks he saw in Tseng's eyes, the looks that he used to see pointed at him without realizing what they meant. How did he bring up the amount of time Tseng was spending at work instead of at home? There was the wistful sigh that came during their lunches together, and how often Tseng was late for dinner and dates now. How was he supposed to explain the change from their love to their passion? That they once made love all night long and now he was lucky if they fucked for fifteen minutes? Reeve, of course, had figured out what it all meant, but did Tseng even realize what it meant of himself?

"You're in love Tseng. Madly and deeply in love."

Finally, a reaction on that elegant face. Bewilderment was more obvious there than it could be if it had been written in big block letters on his forehead.

"Of course I am. I've told you that."

Reeve chuckled and closed the space between them, resting his forehead against that of the Wutain. "Not with me."

"I don't understand," his response came, and there was true confusion in that confident voice.

"I suppose not…"

A kiss was placed upon the small black mark that Reeve had never taken the time to ask about, and he pulled away. "You've always given the best of everything to Rufus you know. Your time, your devotion, and your love. I'd always held some childish belief that it was only the feelings of an employee for his boss, or a man for a friend…"

"Reeve…"

"I don't blame you Tseng. In a way, I'm glad. I've never had the best of you, not in any way, but I'll never have to miss it. And I have faith that you'll make him happy."

"Reeve," Tseng repeated, sounding almost desperate as the man took a step back, out of casual reach, but still easily accessible if he really tried. Problem was that he couldn't find it in him to bridge that gap. Was Reeve right?

"It's been a pleasure. I suppose you will be joining Master Rufus when he comes in for that meeting he has scheduled with the WRO next week."

There was a meek nod and nothing else. Reeve took the chance to turn and walk away.

And so, no sooner had it come than it was gone again. The love suddenly wasn't right. The way they looked at each other was more sorrowful than meaningful. Lips that once shared the sweetest devotions resolved to do no more than exchange pleasantries. And the faith they'd put into their love was wiped easily away. It had been, after all, just another fling, just another relationship. One among many, no more important than that before it nor after it, except for it was the one that mattered. Maybe not for them, but definitely for him. Because, by having only the mediocre, and all of the worst, at least he could hazard a guess at what the best might have been. Perhaps one day he too might get to have the best of someone, but never of the one he wanted.