Fandom: FFVII
Pair: Rufus/Reeve
Denzel's eyes got huge when he saw the massive residence that was the Shinra residential estate. He very rarely came up to the surface, all the bright lights and sounds making up the bustle and clamor of the inncer city were exotic and fascinating to him. Reeve kept a tight hold on his hand as he led them up to the front of the manor and inside. The boy's jaw nearly hit the floor when he saw the interior, more from surprise than anything. Rather than being strung up in diamonds and fancy tables, though it was obvious this mansion cost quite hundreds of thousands, everything emulated a warm, toasty glow. More like stepping into a cabin after playing in the snow than walking into a presidential estate. The decor was simple though elegant, nothing gaudy and flashy, Rufus had done away with those tasteless paintings his father kept after his death. Fishtanks bubbled around several rooms they walked past sporting all kinds of exotic and weird fish and plants. He was far to fascinated at this point to be apprehensive.
"Denzel." Reeve gave a little tug. "let's get you set up in your room first and then you can run around and check things out, alright?" The child nodded vigorously, obediently following the man. Reeve smiled broadly, remembering his first time seeing the estate. He couldn't resist looking at all the strange fish either.
He led Denzel up a long spiral staircase and down another hallway to a vacant room. A huge four poster bed stood in the middle with a fishtank to either wall. Everything from the bedframe to the dresser to the closet and desks were carved straight from rich wood accented with golden or silver vines. Denzel shuffled into the room, suddenly very self-consious about his ragged appearance in this high-class home. Lost in the deep red blankets there napped a huge fluffy grey cat purring lazily about nothing in particular. Seeing the animal eased Denzel up a bit and he climbed on the bed to get a clsoer look.
"Does he bite?" he reached out slowly in case the cat would retailate.
"Oh no." Reeve curled up next to the cat and scratched his ears. "Cupcakes is perfectly harmless. The worst he'll do is lick you to death."
"Cupcakes?" Not a name he would expected a cat to have belonging to Rufus especially. Cupcakes looked like it had eaten a few too many, rolling over to look at the two people that had disturbed his nap. Seeing a new face he craned up to lick the boy's hand making Denzel giggle.
"Rufus named him." Reeve whispered scratching along his back. "But I said nothing."
Denzel smiled, snuggling the fat cat. "Alright, his secret is safe with me."
Rufus stood by the doorframe eyeing the two fawning over his cat and he smiled. Reeve was the ace up his sleeve with this child. As long as he had someone to use as a proper guidebook he would have a chance of not completely blowing this endeavor. He knew absolutely nothing about raising a child. Rufus was mostly raised by his servants and his mother until she died when he was still young. From there the maids and manservant took over until he was old enough to care for himself. His father treated Rufus as nothing more than a political necessity and he hated the man for it. He was overjoyed when Sephiroth killed him.
"I come bearing drinks." he set down a platter on a desk. Denzel bounced over with Cupcakes slung over a shoulder purring madly while it flopped helplessly. Rufus just smiled, leaning back into the warm hands of his boyfriend wrapping around him. Reeve knew just how to touch him to make all the stress go away. Make him loose and limber and ready to pounce. The man was a sedative, his drug. He needed Reeve, they melded perfectly together, both in bed and out. Leaning back he stole a deep kiss, savoring the affection the older man showered him with. How could he ever abandon this? The one man that made him feel whole and warm.
Denzel paid the two no heed completely absorbed in Cupcakes and the hot tea Rufus brought. He'd seen far worse things on the streets than two men kissing. It surprised him though, to see the ruthless son of a bitch known as Rufus Shinra be so tender and loving. The way he looked at Reeve was genuine, he adored the other man. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.. He was worried at first but the prospect of having a family far outweighed any doubts in his heart.
The two finally broke and Rufus dug through the closet, heaving out boxes stashed in the very back. Denzel drew closer and peeked in them, curious. They were packed with clothes that were roughly his size, probably from when Rufus was a child. He pulled out a shirt and tugged it on. A little tight around the arms but it would suffice.
"My mother was a horrible packrat." Rufus explained. "Some of the maids loved her too much to throw all this stuff out when she died so it has been sitting in here ever since. If you can find something that fits it is yours. If need be we will go out and get you some suitable attire in the morning. once you are dressed throw your dirty clothes in that basket there and you are free to run about the manor. If you feel the need to call Cloud there is a phone over there." Denzel nodded and the two left to give him some privacy. Rufus was still a bit rough around the edges but he was not too bad of a guy. He was trying to repent for his wrongs on more than just the politcal front and Denzel was willing to give him a chance.
Finally dressed Denzel followed back the way he came and into the grand first floor. Rufus has given him free reign so he started to the left, exploring the study crammed with books and plush reading chairs. A huge fireplace against the center wall with a rug and some mice with bald spots for Cupcakes. A staircase led to even more books overhead. Into the adjoining living area he found a couple fishtanks, pressing close to examine the wild and colorful fish trapped behind the glass. One of them blew up when it saw him and he giggled, watching it roll helplessly about the tank before getting small again and swimming away behind a plant.
He followed the smell of food into a dining room and the adjoining kitchen where something was cooking ina microwave. Denzel blushed fiercly as he followed strange male noises around the fridge where Rufus had Reeve pinned to the wall. They were kissing and Reeve's eyes fluttered like he was about to pass out, at the mercy of whatever Rufus was doing to him. Scarred enough for today, Denzel turned and ran back upstairs, following the expensive hallway down to another room. Peeking in he assumed this was Rufus's bedroom, set up much like his own but tiwh a bathroom off one door and some other room off another. Curious, he peeked in.
The room was lined with wide windows, moonlight illuminating shadows across the dark floor. He looked up to where the tilted reflections pointed, a gorgeous white grand piano sitting on a raised podium. Stepping into the room he looked at pictures of a younger Rufus playing a similiar piano lining the walls leading up to the grand instrument. Sitting down on the bench he ran his fingers over the keys, noting one was a slightly different shade than the others. He played the key but it opened no secret door, made no special sound. just the same note a normal piano would make. Engraved in flowing gold script above the keys was the name "Isabella."
"I see you've found her." Denzel jumped, whirling around to face Rufus. The blonde strode over and touched the different colored key, a prick of sadness in his eyes. "Isabella was the name of my first piano. I loved her dearly, no one else had ever cared for me like her. i could tell her everything, play her until it felt like my fingertips would bleed and she would listen. We would make such beautiful music together. Until my father destroyed her."
"..Your father?" Denzel asked. Anger flicked across the powerful blue eyes.
"Yes.. he destroyed Isabella saying that i needed to be more of a man and focus on politics rather than music. He demolished my love.. the only thing that ever cared for me.." he ran his fingers over the keys playing a little tune. He looked at home in those few measures, whole with his beloved instrument. "This key here is from the original Isabella. My manservant gave it to me to remind me never to give up my one true passion."
Denzel got up and motioned for Rufus to play. The President sat down and immediately fell into the rhythm, playing a beautiful carol, like the chiming of a thousand bells ringing off the ivory keys. Denzel sat down next to him, closing his eyes and letting himself imagine the peaceful scene drifting off the music. Snow falling down, the winds of a blizzard chiming little bells hung outside a window warmed by a roaring fireplace. Serene and perfect. Amazing how a man could speak of such worlds without ever uttering a word.
"Rufus." The older man turned to Reeve's voice, surprised when he felt Denzel shift beside him. The boy had fallen asleep, tucked close against the other's arm. Rufus smiled, something stinging his heart. Something strange and warm and new yet utterfly terrifying. Was this what being a real father felt like? Was he feeling something now, something so beautiful and wonderful, that his father had never felt?
"Reeve.." any other words were lost in the older man's mouth pressing against his own. It was the simple things like this that made it worthwhile to exist. They broke the kiss and Reeve gently picked up Denzel, carrying him to bed. Rufus went over to the windows, pressing his forehead to the pane watching the moon glow in the sky. After feeling that he knew he could do this. He would show up his father and anyone else that ever hurt and mistreated him. He would be the best damn husband and father there ever was.