Couldn't think of much more to add to this, but that's okay : )

The characters. They belong to Squeeeeeeeenix.

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(Reno)

"Would you like peppermint or jasmine? Or I can even fix up some iced if you'd prefer, Sir Renio."

"Gimme a hit a'that jasmine, please, Lady Elena-Isolde."

"Would you care for a bit of honey, Sir Renio?"

"Oh hell yeah, yo. Uh, Lady Elena-Isolde, please."

At this point, Cid steps into the room and says "Hey," and Vincent cautiously peeks around the door.

"I am in the middle of a fucking tea party, what the fuck do you want?"

Cid almost has to drag Vince in.

"What's the matter with you, yo? Y'look like death warmed over," I sneer at Vincent, wishing he'd just walk right back out the door.

"I'm sorry..." he drops to his knees beside me, like he's begging for forgiveness.

"Why? Didja start to miss me or somethin'?"

"Ree, I..." The unemotional pretense he's gotten so good at constructing is losing its strength. He lowers his eyes, heavy-rimmed with dark circles.

"Vincent! You seriously pissed me off!"

"I know..." Vincent starts, but chokes on his own words. He squeezes his eyes shut and hangs his head.

"You just toss me an' Cid out like we're fucken expendable, and, and, fuck, man! Fucking, not cool!"

"I know..." He tries again, not getting any further with the sentence. His teeth clench tight, and I see his jaw shifting as he grinds down on them. "I know!" he growls angrily.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I shout back, demanding an answer.

"Don't, Reno," Cid warns and glares with a seriousness I don't think I've ever seen in him before.

Vincent takes a deep shuddering breath. Before I can yell anymore, he quickly says, "My dad found me. I wanted to protect you from him and I didn't know what else to do. Reno, I'm sorry..."

The admission was certainly not one I wanted to hear, but it wasn't very surprising to me. I look to Cid. I want confirmation. To know he's just making shit up, and it's just some rotten joke. But yeah, Vincent is telling the truth. The unjustified fucking truth. And he'd pushed me away when he needed someone the most. Unbelievable, stupid bastard.

I kneel on the floor so I don't feel like he's groveling anymore.

"Hey," I hold my hand out for Vincent to take. He lays his palm against mine. "I... I'm sorry. You had a good reason act so messed up. I need to apologize. Not you. I don't care, yo, about whatchyou said the other day. It doesn't matter. You got that? I'm still gonna be here for ya, buddy. S'that clear?"

"Clear, Reno," he agrees. He gives my hand a weak squeeze, but that's a good enough gesture as any.

"I know what it's like. Parents can do such horrible things to their children," Elena speaks solemnly. "Sometimes it gets to where you can't keep all your emotions and sanity straight. Does that happen sometimes?

Vincent looks up at her and nods. Satisfied with the response, Elena continues.

"You can hide and you can cry and be scared and mad. That's okay cos you can't pretend your feelings aren't there and you need to let them out. That's part of getting better. Try not to be ashamed about what you need to do to get better, okay?"

For the next few seconds, they share what seems to be a look of understanding, like they're mentally connected through their two separate experiences.

"Don't give up on yourself," Elena asserts quietly, knowingly. Vincent breaks the stare and lowers his head again.

"No more crying," I mildly insist. I reach over to wipe away a stray tear, but Vincent turns his head further away from me. Shit, I'm such a jack ass. I shouldn't have snapped at him like I did. "Are you... gonna be okay?"

Vincent nervously tucks a piece of hair behind his ear, his gaze locked back on the hardwood floor. "I don't know..."

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Pretty short, but with a nice, kind of sad ending.

I had a dream once in which Reno was playing with Legos, and I went to sit with him and kept saying "Well hello, Renio. What's up, Renio? How are you DOing Renio?" Lawl. I liked it.

Comments will be responded to in the next update, which I THINK will be soon.

TBC, yo!