Rude had enjoyed it as well... and he was fairly certain Tifa did, too. He wondered what it was going to take to get a copy of that tape off the girl.
No need to ask, for a small package was slipped through the mailslot in the door.
However, Rude didn't notice, as the exhaustion from the night's activities was quickly catching up with him. He tossed the washcloth in the general direction of the bathroom and crashed. Literally and figuratively.
Reno as morning came noted he was in an unfamailiar bed. .Then he remembered last night and and looked at the clock. Crap! "Rude, it's 9 ! We gotta call the boss an' let him know we're running a little behind!"
A little behind? More like HORRIBLY late. Rude was up, out of the bed, and awake in an instant.
OK, so they'd been a little tireder than they'd thought, while Rude was takng care of his morning routine Reno was calling Tseng. "Yeah, we'll be on our way in 30 minutes, maybe less. .We're REALLY sorry. ..I forgot to set the alarm,"
He didn't add that the reason he hadn't was that he'd passed out in the restroom after the best sex he'd had in months.
Rude was completely dressed and questing for coffee within 10 minutes of waking. Efficient? Him. Never.
Reno had pulled his uniform on and pulled his hair into SOME semblance of order as well, Though he'd definatly have to shower and wash it when they got back to Healin after work.
There it was. Horrible tasting, but workable, instant, single serve coffee bags. He poured some hot water from the faucet into a pair of styrofoam mugs and set the bags in there to steep. It was going to be rough... but instant coffee was better than no coffee.
"Called Tseng, I think he knows more'n he let on." Reno chuckles softly.
"He always does," Rude answered, finally offering Reno a cup of the swill the package called coffee.
Reno downed it, not even noticing the taste, He seemed cheerier than he had after his exam, as well he should.
Rude grimaced after each sip, finally deciding Reno's idea of downing it was easier on the palette. "Ready?" he asked, straightening his tie.
"Yeah, We got guard duty this morning. ..fun."
Joy, Rude thought. As wonderfully boring as guard duty could be, it would be a nice change from all the drama from the past month. However, it did tend to make his feet hurt. Maybe he needed some new shoes.
"At least it ain't for the old man anymore. ..he used ta cop feels every time he walked by me."
Did he? Rude never really noticed that. However, the late president ShinRa did have this thing about perfection. Rude would never forget the one time he'd shown up for guard duty with a small scuff on his shoe. He'd never heard the end of it, and it made him constantly check his appearance prior to walking into the office. He still did that, on occassion, even though he was certain Rufus wouldn't care, so long as he showed up wearing pants. And he was fairly certain, on the right days, even pants were optional.
Then they were out of the room and on the road Reno had had the forethought to bring the car this time instead of his bike so his hair would at least not be TOO horribly windblown.
Rude was feeling brave, letting Reno drive and all. Besides, he couldn't quite get that little smudge off his sunglasses for the life of him. How did he get a smudge right over his eye?
"I think I caught your shades as I passed out last night, sorry, big guy."
Rude shrugged. It wasn't the first time, and it probably wouldn't be the last. He reached over to grab the end of Reno's untucked shirt. He didn't want to mess his up by untucking, then trying to re-tuck in the car.
Reno layed on the horn as traffic came to a very SUDDEN stop in front of them.
Rude was rather happy he used his seatbelt. "What the fuck?" he asked, happy he'd finally gotten the damn smudge out.
Reno grunted. "Looks like a fairly nasty accident. .."
Rude raised an eyebrow, questioning if they should wait in traffic or go investigate. Knowing Reno, he'd probably want to investigate. He was a busybody like that.
Reno stepped out of the car to find two cars wrecked, and the driver of one descrbing an odd monster seemingly appearing out of nowhere that had caused the accident. The cars were in the process of being moved off the road.
Rude followed a small distance behind Reno, just taking in the situation. The cars were totalled, but it seemed the drivers and their passangers were okay. He stepped into the middle of the road and began directing traffic around the vehicles.
"Seems ever since those fucking clones showed up we've been havin' more an' more occurances like this.
Rude nodded, smiling easily at the woman who flipped him off. Ahh, road rage. While Rude wasn't one to do it, one day, that woman was going to run into someone carrying a gun and just as full of rage as she was. At least, that's what Rude thought about people who got pissed off about other people's driving.
Reno yelped as the creature suddenly melted out of the ground behind him, emr out afaster than one could blink, he whacked at it the thing and it suddenly dissolved. "What the FUCK!"
Rude's eyes widened, and not because a car full of probably underaged girls were flashing him... however, THAT sight was causing the slight blush. "What... was that?" he asked.
"Got no fuckin' idea, just know I never wanna see it again."
"Keep your eyes open," Rude said, glancing over at Reno, then at the almost cleared wreackage. He waved another car past, refusing to notice the overly pale posterior hanging out the window.
The authorities finally got the accident cleared, and they were on their way again. "We gotta tell the boss about those things, he'll wanna figure out a way to protect the resta the citizens from 'em.
Rude nodded. He wasn't sure how the President would manage that, what with ShinRa being in a state of non-power in its current, totally only five member, state.
"Which probably is gonna mean us." He grimaces at the thought.
"Just think of the overtime," Rude mentioned with a small smile. However, he was rolling on the floor laughing on the inside. Them? Overtime? Hell, they hadn't pulled in a paycheck since the Meteor incident.
"Rufus is payin' us what little we are gettin' from his own pocket, so yeah, overtime, heh."
"He doesn't have to," Rude mentioned. He knew, and he knew that Reno knew, that Rufus knew that being paid wasn't why they stayed around after Meteor. It was just that... well... they were Turks. It was what Turks did.
Reno nodded "I stayed around 'cause I owe him. .and this company. .my life, really. You know what I was when they first recruited me, all o' maybe 135 pounds, runnin'. .. that blond bastard woulda caught me eventually and I woulda been without backup."
Rude smiled. And, with a little bit of luck, that fat fuck was currently a pile of behemoth droppings in the city's garbage yard.
Or in the floor of the hospital room they'd vacated two days prior. ..that rainbow colored sleeve had looked familiar.
As Reno parked the car, Rude took a deep breath, unconsciously checking to make sure his appearance was perfect. Having something drilled into your head by the late president wasn't something you forgot easily... even with his significantly more laid back son.
Reno immediatly went to report what they'd seen to the president. "The thing caused a nasty accident on the way in, which is why we're a little later than expected, Rude kept the resta the traffic back so the aciident reconstruction folk could haul the cars out."
Rude nodded, moving to take his place beside his partner. He stood silently at parade rest, knowing Reno would explain everything the President needed to know.
"I think they got somethin' ta do with the clones that have been runnin' around the city lately. onea 'em must be able to control the things."
Rude took that moment to glance around the room. There were a pair of Turks missing, he noticed rather quickly. However, it wasn't his place to interrupt. He could wait.
"Elena and Tseng are fueling the chopper. .if what you've told me is true. ..there could be only one thing they are after. ..Reno, you will fly them to the crater to retreive Jenova's head. Those clones must under NO circumstances gain posession of it."
"Jenova's head?" Rude asked. He thought she was destroyed along with Sephiroth.
"Her head remains sealed in a hazard container and was buried in a hidden spot within the crater. .on Father's order. .It must be destroyed, but first. ..I intend to use it to lure the clones into the open."
"Are you sure that's... safe, sir?" Rude asked. He wasn't entirely sure, but he was rather convinced that of the clones they'd met, all four Turks working as a single, coherent unit wouldn't be able to subdue them without a little divine intervention.
"I plan on requesting Strife's assistance as well. I understand the two of you are in Miss Lockhart's good graces once more. .he is, or last I heard WAS living with her. ..I need you to speak to him, see if you can convince him to help us. He, after all, does have a vested interest in protecting the world from anything that may be left of Sephiroth, correct?"
Rude blushed at the mention of Tifa. He hoped she wouldn't end up sending the President a copy of that tape as a joke. He would NEVER live it down. Ever.
"Yes sir."
Rude looked over at Reno. "You call her." He wasn't sure he could NOT stutter and blush profusely just speaking to the woman.
"course." He picked up his phone, calling her. "I know you remember me, yo"
"Yeah, I remember yo, you. So, you need me to talk to Cloud? he's on a run now, he's been running a delivery service since we defeated Meteor."
Rude tried not to fidget. Really he did. He just hoped, the girl being on speakerphone and all, wouldn't mention that tape.
"I got a package for you guys when you come back. ..an' yeah, I'll call him. Can't guarantee he'll help, but I'll call."
Whew. Rude's mental sigh of relief was almost audible. He turned to the President. "While they're gone, what do you need me to do?"
"You still have guard duty, I need one of you here, since defending myself would be fairly difficult."
Rude smiled gently. He knew how much Rufus HATED being dependant on someone else. "Yes, sir," he said, moving to take his place slightly behind and to the President's right. He was... comfortable, there.
Reno was quickly out to the chopper. doing pre-flight checks. ..he HATED doing missions without his partner, hated it with a passion, but one of them was needed with the president, and Tseng new the crater better than anyone else. but to put him alone on this wouldn't work, so he ended up with Elena, Reno was the more skilled pilot, so he ended up flying.
Rude puttered about the room, making a pot of the herbal tea that Tseng had gotten Rufus addicted to. If nothing more, it would make the blonde feel a little better. However, for some reason, he was having a bad feeling about the mission to the crater. Call it a hunch. Call it hanging out with Reno too much. Call it indigestion, if you wanted to. But still, it was a bad feeling.
"You seem troubled, Rude. ..tell me, what is it that troubles you?"
"I'm not sure, sir," Rude said, handing the saucer and teacup to Rufus. "There seems to be a... a sort of quickening, sir. Kind of like the planet preparing for another crisis. I can... It's just a feeling I have."
"This mission troubles you then? You can trust that Tseng and Elena will do all in their power to protect your partner. ..and I am assured YOU and your fellow Turks will do your best to protect me and the rest of the people. The world may be in chaos. .but that does not mean I do not feel some responsibility to the people."
He was most DEFINITLY hanging out with Reno too much, picking up some of his habits and everything. "But it's not Reno I'm worried about, sir."
"Tell me then, what is it that worries you so? you and Reno's instincts have so often proven to be correct."
Rude sighed, moving his hands as if he could scoop the words right out of the air. After a moment, he gave up, dropping his arms to his sides in defeat. "I... I don't know what EXACTLY is bothering me. It's just... the whole thing in general. I'm sorry, sir."
"It is quite allright. When you figure it out just tell me,"
Rude sighed. He hated it when words elluded him.
Reno meanwhile was now hovering above the crater, after having lowered Tseng and Elena into it.
"Where, exactly, are we going, sir?" Elena asked. She had her handgun out, holding it loosely in her grip. The surroundings, the eerie sounds... it was giving her the creeps.
Tseng led her back to the spot where the head had been buried beginning to unearth it. "There it is."
Elena stayed standing, eyes darting around, looking for any sign of trouble.
Tseng showed her the head, which sent her nose crinkling.
"Ew," she said. "Remind me never to become a world eating alien." She froze. A sound, off to the side, and not a normal sound for the area. "Shh... what was that?" she said very quietly.
Another gunshot echoed from the cavern wall, it struck Tseng in the shoulder, sending him spinning to the ground...only to be looking straight into the cat-slit green eyes of the long-haired clone.
"Hello, lovely," the long-haired man said.
Elena brought her gun to bear, aiming for the man's head. She knew they were fast, knew that was why Reno was hospitalized earlier that week, but instincts told her to shoot. So she did. However, her shot went wide as something large slammed into her, knocking the wind from her lungs.
Loz smirked at her as his dual hound buried itself into her chest.
Tseng had already called Reno down to make the retrieval, he threw him the container, and yelled "Go! Go! GO!"
Reno took off in a hurry with the box, it was his duty...but his eyes lingered on the crater as he did. He hated leaving his comrades. .no, not just comrades, but FRIENDS, behind.
"Hey, Loz," the long-haired man said, voice dripping with something akin to an arousing promise. He straddled Tseng's body, moving gloved fingers over the elder man's face. "Want to play?"
Elena's eyes widened at the smirk that crossed this Loz's face, then shrieked as her body was wracked with pain.
Loz smirked "You know me well, Otosan."
Meanwhile, Rude was pacing a hole in the floor, and he was certain that, were Rufus able to stand, he would be too.
Reno called in "I have the head sir. ..but Tseng and Elena have been captured. .." He knew.. that news would hit Rufus like a bullet, and he'd not wanted to be the one to deliver it.
Rufus seemed to almost draw in on himself. ..not quite a wince, but as close as he came. "understood."
Rude took the phone before Rufus dropped it. "Reno?" he said into the phone. "What is it? What went wrong?"
"THEY were there.. .the bastard that damn near raped me at the bar. ..and the one that used me as a shield. ..Tseng sent me away with the head."
"And Elena?" Rude was certain he didn't have to ask, but he did anyway.
"They took them both. .it was escape with the head or fail the mission. ."
"Fuck." And that was the one and only time Rude had EVER used vulgarity in front of the President. He glanced over to Rufus, seeing how quickly he was withdrawing from everything around him. Rude took a deep breath, deciding that, if Rufus couldn't make the desicions and Tseng wasn't there, he, as most senior Turk, was in charge. "Bring the head here, then we'll plan for a recovery mission."
Rufus seemed to simply shrug the encroaching fear off as one would an old coat.He was after all not the man one never saw bleed or cry for nothing. "Rude is correct bring the head here. .I will inform you what I wish done with it when you arrive."
"We need help," Rude said plainly. He hated saying it, hated it far more than he would ever let on. It implied failure, and if there was one thing he was NOT, it was a failure.
"Cloud will come once Tifa contacts him, if only from curiosity."
"We don't know that," Rude protested. Even though Cloud was, in his own words, 'one of the good guys', that didn't mean he was going to show up, or help them, even.
"She will tell him Sephiroth is involved. ..once he hears that he will come."
Rude kept his protests to himself. They had to plan for the eventuality that Cloud WOULDN'T come... or worse, would come and decide not to help. They had to tread very lightly with that man.
Reno came back 20 minutes later with the box, his jaw set in a way which said he'd hated leaving them behind
Rude took the box from Reno, handing it to the President, then turning back to the redhead. With a grim look on his face, he firmly embraced his partner, just happy he made it back in one piece.
"I shoulda tried to get them out, dammit. .you know how I hate leaving comrades in the hands of people like that."
"You did... what you had to do," Rude said softly. He pulled away from Reno before speaking again. "Now, we need a plan to rescue them."
"Don't make me feel any better about doin' it yo. ..how are we gonna tell Em?"
"We don't," Rude replied simply. "At least... not until we know for sure."
A knock sounded at the door, and despite what Tifa had seen, this was business if it was who he was sure it was, and being seen with your partner's arms over your shoulders was NOT a good thing while doing business, so he stepped away from Rude, drew his emr, and answered the door.
Rude had taken the President into the other room. No sense having the diseased man getting in the middle of a possible brawl. Knowing the way Reno and Cloud got along... it was more than possible.
Cloud when he opened the door drew his sword, which Reno immediatly parried. ..they then circled for a few moments until Reno finally dove at him. ..he then sidestepped so that Reno ran past him, damn near toppling over the railing as he hit. After he did so he shut and locked the door.
He may have helped Reno when he was dying. ..but that didn't mean he liked the Turk.
Reno felt the door slam in his face, and his irritation grew. "So you're good"
Rude tried to hold back the laugh, really tried. Had appearances to keep up, after all. He stepped into the room, a very slight smirk on his face as he flicked his wrist, extending his own weapon... just in time to get a buster sword laid against his throat. Rude grunted, acknowledging Cloud's speed.
Reno says through the door "Go Rude, lookin' sharp, yo!"
Cloud simply looked at him. "What's this about?"
Rude backed off, hearing the click of the President's wheelchair as he entered the room. He stepped back without more than another grunt. Better to let the more eloquent man speak.
Cloud let the tiniest of smirks touch his lips. "Rufus Shinra? Man. ..do I feel sorry for you."
Rude's hand went to his tie. That nervous sign again.
Rufus took a deep breath before he started. He knew he had to choose his words carefully, otherwise the ex-SOLDIER was likely to misunderstand his intentions. "The day of the explosion..." he started.
"What do you want from me?"
Rufus continued. Cloud had to know the whole story. "I manged to get..."
"I'm leaving! "
Fine. Cloud wanted it the hard way, Rufus ShinRa could play the hard way. He raised his hand, letting the sheet fall just enough to show the disease covering it. "We need your assistance, Cloud."
"Not intrested. " Cloud was beginning to look impatient
Rufus bowed his head. Now was the time to begin to show his hand. "I awknowledge that Shinra owes the planet a lot," he said, knowing that it would help his case to show Cloud just how much different he was from his father. "It goes without saying that my company and I put the world in the sorry state it's in. Therefore, it's our responsibility to set things right." And it was something Rufus really, truly believed.
Reno pipes up in an annoyed fashion "I'm still out here!"
Rude knew that. Rufus knew that. But they both also knew that Reno was not well known for his... tact. "As a first step, we have commenced an investigation in Sephiroth's wake."
"Yup, at the Northern Caves! "
Rufus mentally rolled his eyes. "What do you think we found?" He paused, not fully expecting Cloud to answer at all. "Nothing. Nothing at all. You can relax, however, not all is like planned... we were interrupted by the same three that attacked you, Kadaj and his gang."
Cloud's eyes closed a moment in thought. "Kadaj. . ."
"It seems he doesn't want us finishing what we started. Really, what could they be thinking?" Rufus was throwing out all the stops in the rhetorical question category today.
"What does that have to do with me?"
Reno's tone held a somewhat sarcastic tinge to it "You're our buddy, aren't ya!"
Rufus mentally told Reno to shut up and let him do the talking, but he knew the redhead couldn't read minds. "Kadaj's group is young and violent - as dangerous as they come. That's why we decided it would be in our best interest to hire a little muscle," He explained.
"Too bad, I'm a delivery boy now."
Rufus sighed. They were getting nowhere, fast. "You're all I have. Cloud..." Okay, time to switch tactics. "Look, You're an ex-SOLDIER, aren't you?"
"... In my head." Cloud reached over and opened the door What's this stuff about 'Mother'? "
"Mother? Hmm... "Why, did Kadaj say something to you?" At Cloud's silence, Rufus continued. "No surprise. There are plenty of kids who miss their mothers. That's the world we live in." Rufus paused, making sure he still had Cloud's full attention. "I hear there are orphans living with you." He watched the blonde's eyebrow raise, then finished. "Think about it - don't you want to put smiles back on their faces? All we want in the end is to rebuild our world, Cloud."
Cloud looks unsure "But, I."..
Reno peeks in through the doorway "C'mon, Cloud, think about it. Together we can rebuild Shinra. "
With that, Cloud slams his way past them and out the door.
"Reno." Rude shook his head. He KNEW the redhead was going to say something that would set Cloud off. Dammit. Now they really couldn't count on the ex-SOLDIER's help.
Reno knew it too. ..and cursed himself for ten different kinds of idiot as he strode back inside. ..just as the door opened again and with a swift blow his breath leaves him. ..then another to the back of his head in the same site as the previous injury that left his ears ringing.
"Cloud!" Rude called, realizing shortly after he said it that the hair covering the offending person's head was silver, not blonde. "You," he growled, noticing Kadaj and the long-haired man chuckling to themselves.
Loz chuckled darkly. "The little redhead is yours to play with Yazoo. ..the big man, however, is mine."
The third one? Loz was his name? Where did he come from? Rude blinked. All three of them. There. His eyes widened as he moved himself to stand between them and the President. He would protect Rufus ShinRa, or die trying.
Kadaj gave a similar smirk. "Yes. .you owe him for that little display at the club, don't you. ..have at it, Yazoo. ..didn't you tell me how good you thought he'd feel?"
Reno suddenly began struggling, he KNEW where this is going ..and he didn't like the idea one bit.
"Display?" Rude barked. "What display?" He fell into a fighting stance, trying to keep himself between the three and the President. He was slightly torn: his duty to the President, or his duty to his husband?
"He told us about this one here going all limit break on him..he hurt Yazoo. .now Yazoo has the opportunity to hurt him if he wishes."
"NO!" Rude shouted, throwing himself at the one identified as Yazoo. However, Loz stepped between them, and with one hand knocked Rude to the ground.
Loz then slapped a struggling Reno in the head. "you may as ell give it up. .he may look little, but he's strong."
"Gentlemen," Rufus said firmly, speaking up finally. He was NOT going to just sit back and watch. "Let's be a little more civil, shall we?"
Kadaj sneered. "And why would we want to do that. ..you have something we want. ..and that sniveling brat owes my brother a debt."
Rufus sighed. "Children," he said, knowing the trio would NOT enjoy the taunting. "A debt of that small magnitude does not require a larger repayment... especially repayment in blood. I will not allow you to do that to my people."
Yazoo gave Reno one last ringing punch and a fierce kiss to taunt Rude before climbing off him. . .Loz also gave Rude one more fierce hit before climbing off him.
Kadaj looked straight at Rufus "Boy do I hate liers."
Rude's ears were ringing... or was he hearing voices in his head from the metal plate? He really couldn't tell.
"I aplogize." Ah yes, Rufus thought. Now we get down to business. "This time you get the truth. The object you seek fell from the helicoptor while we were running from you." He paused, sparing a glance at his injured Turks. "I'm afraid we were careless."
Reno's eyelids fluttered as he fought to stay awake. . .he HURT, that much he knew.
"Is that right?" Kadaj's tone of voice said he didn't believe a word.
"I swear it." Rufus' voice was a mixture of honesty and lofty amusement.
Kadaj displayed the two bloodied ids. "Fine. ..then swear on these!" he tossed them to the floor.
Rufus tried to school his face, but failed as he nearly gasped at the cards. "Why did you do this?"
"We need MOther's power."
Ah. The Reunion that the clones had spoken of during the Sephiroth incident. "Reunion..."
Kadaj paced and gestured wildly as he spoke "My brothers and sisters who all share Mother's cells will all asemble, and together we'll take revenge on the planet! We already sent out the invitations, but... " He laughs darkly. "you know, someone's gone and hidden the guest of honor."
A lesser man would have responded with 'psycho.' Rufus, however, was NOT a lesser man. "Invitations?"
"The stigma. But you know all about that, Sir." as he stepped back he spread his arms in the manner of a showman "Mother's legacy lives on in the Lifestream and makes it happen. She does... so much for us, and we... we don't even know where to find her! But what can we do? We're just remnants. Really, remnants of Mother's legacy. Until we find Mother and recieve cells, we can't be whole again. Geostigma and a legacy aren't enough for a true reunion. " Eith that, he turns, his eyes narrowing on Rufus.
It made no sense... "What do you mean?"
Kadaj kneels in front of him, "But, I'm sure you've already noticed. " With that, his features flicker from his own. ..to Sephiroth's. ..and back. He then stands, gesturing to his brothers, he turns. "If I find out you've lied to me. .you will not like the result." He then strides out, Yazoo and Loz trailing out behind him.
Rufus gasped at the resemblence. There. THAT was what had been disturbing him about the entire situation. When they left, he let out the breath he hadn't known he was holding.
"Reno...? Rude...? Are you all right?" he asked.
Reno sits up, holding his pounding head, finally managing to hold his eyes open, though they're at half-mast. "Nothin' a potion or two can't handle. ..ugh. ..for a lil' guy he's got quite a punch."
Rude let out a sound that resembled a grunt, "Sir." He kept his hand to his head, his ears, or his plate, still ringing.
Reno did not want to dwell on what that little bastard had intended to do to him, though he had been able to feel the slender silver-hair's erection through the hard leather.
"We do not have Cloud's help," Rufus said, speaking his thoughts out loud to help focus them into their next plan of attack. "Kadaj's gang is looking for Jenova, and they are willing to kill to get it. There is some sort of reunion planned between them and Jenova... which is the cause of the stigma."
"I'll follow Cloud, if ya like. ..maybe. .I can rectify my mistake. ..Sir."
"Yes... please do. And take Rude with you," Rufus said, still looking thoughtful.
"Sir?" Rude asked, finally standing. Someone needed to stay there and guard the President.
"I do not think they'll be coming back soon," Rufus replied. "Besides, were I fully healthy, I don't believe we could stand up to them, physically."
Reno nodded, striding out with Rude in front of him, he grabbed a quick hug, as unprofessional as that might be, as he did. If there was a chance they were going to die he was going to take every small gesture he could.
Rude saluted the President, silently vowing not to fail him again as he left with Reno.
Just after they left, Vincent strode in without even bothering to knock. .he had a still pale Elena in his arms, and Tseng using his shoulder for support. "I believe, sir, that these two lost souls belong to you." was all he said as he settled Elena into a bed, then helped Tseng sit.
Rufus forced himself to stand, shuffling over before collapsing into Tseng's lap. "Tseng," he breathed, eyes and voice showing just how young he really was.
Tseng nodded "I am. ..alive sir, though how much more than that I cannot truly say as yet."
He ran his fingers very tenderly through the silky blond strands. "I have missed you as well, my dear heart." It was usually Tseng's private endearment for him, but with as close as things had been. ..he'd not begrudge his lover the use of it in front of the one who had saved him.
Rufus just breathed Tseng's scent for a moment, before looking up at the former Turk. "Thank you," he said, his entire gratitude at the return of his thought lost lover in those two words. "For both of them," he finished, looking over at Elena.
Vincent nodded, a hint of a smile showing "Turks always look out for one another." With that he strode out.
"You are... alive," Rufus breathed, pressing his face into Tseng's abdomen as he knelt on the floor. His form began to shake... not from the stigma.
"Yes, he rescued us, sir. .." Tseng lifted Rufus' head, capturing his lips in a tender kiss. ..finding himself wishing Rufus had the strength for more. ..he wanted more. ..much more.
Rufus heard Elena groan a little, and turned to look in her direction. His time with the trio fresh in his memory, his face turned white as he asked Tseng, "Elena? They didn't..." he didn't want to say the word. "Did they?"
Tseng shook his head "They would have sir. ..but he reached us just in time. ..apparantly he'd been following the three."He shuddered a bit "The one had a message for Reno, sir. 'I'll find you when the time is right. ..when I do you'd best be prepared to cover your backside.'"
"Help me back to my chair, Tseng... please," Rufus asked. He could not stay on his knees between Tseng's legs all day and not take advantage of the situation. Besides, he had a strategy to plan.
Tseng helped him back in, his hands trembling, he was still slightly dizzy from the blood loss the injuries he'd sustained during the torture had caused.