"I didn't think what happened with Krastof was your fault. You just could have been a little more careful." Rude's words were spoken evenly.
Reno nodded, leaning a little closer, he was still pretty shaky, his entire body language begged to be touched, to be held by the only one he really completely trusted for comfort.
"You could really be more careful most times, and it's never bothered you when I brought it up before." And it was true. Rude thought that Reno seemed more than reckless, almost suicidal, at times when dealing with dangerous people.
"I can be reckless. ..I know. .." He shook his head, then gestured as he tried to articulate to this one who meant more than his own life the feelings of worthlessness that West had picked up on so easily. .. finally doing so with a soft. "I've never been that important, really. . "
Rude frowned, but it softened quickly. He took Reno's hand into his, holding it gently. "Important to me," he said quietly.
"You know. .I think I really needed to hear that from you. ..you've been my rock. ..had my back through so much. ..I wanna be able to have yours too, but it's so hard when I'm so fucking messed up."
Rude didn't know what to say to that. He just sat there, looking at Reno's hand in his, noticing how tiny the redhead's fingers were compared to his own, noticing how pale he was compared to his own mocha coloured skin.
"You deserve better than some. ..broken toy. ..but I can't let go." There, he'd acknowledge it.. .the brokeness that had led to the savage desperation to have everything "as it was". He knew it was neither healthy nor possible, though, all he could do was move forward. ..become the stronger and healthier man his baby deserved, and his husband deserved.
Rude's eyes shot up from his study of their hands. "You're not just some 'broken toy,'" he said. "You're... more than that. Better than that."
His eyes went wide, and he leaned further in, his eyes asking if he could settle himself against the broad chest, draw warmth and comfort from it as he had once before.
A grunt and a nod from Rude, and he gently pulled Reno against him. While a good portion of those feelings were still numb, he could feel the spark between him and the redhead, that basic human desire for comfort and touch.
Reno leaned into him, sighing...eyes finally dry as he told of how helpless and cold and alone he'd felt during the hours Rude had gone after Eric. .and in even slower and more halting tones. .how dirty and ashamed he'd felt after the rally. .. how he'd forced himself to want to be touched again to prevent Rude from suspecting, though his tone told clearly how he'd suspected Rude had known more than he let on, and how now. ..Rude was the only one he trusted to touch him with more than a few causual brushes unless Rude was there with him.
"I... I don't deserve such an honour," he said quietly, his hands rubbing gently over Reno's back.
"You do in my eyes, yo...you've protected me. .from so much. ..yeah, you've scared me a few times, but that's done with, right? We move on, move forward, 'sall we can do"
Rude just sighed, placing his chin on Reno's head and just breathing the smell of his hair.
"You did know more than you let on, I bet. ..or suspected something wasn't right." he just shook his head, chuckling softly. "But you never said anything. ..probably were waiting to see if I would."
"You never could keep a secret."
"No, I never could...my body language always gives me away. ..to you at least. ..just like yours does to me..'swhy we FIT."
Rude chuckled slightly.
"I want you.. so much, but I'm too damn torn up thanks to that bastard. .." He sighed, shifted his weight to try to get comfortable again."
"Don't know if I'm ready for that yet," he said honestly. He was just now getting comfortable with touching Reno in non-sexual manners; it would take a little more time to get to the point of touching him in a blatently sexual way.
"Was bein' honest. ..bein'; honest with ourselves an' each other's what recoverin's about, right?"
Rude nodded, closing his mouth before he drooled a little on the top of Reno's hair.
"Guess. ..I just wanna reaffirm that we survived this whole fucked up period. ..with something of US left intact. God knows it woulda destroyed the sanest. .. an' I don't think even Tseng and Rufus' marriage woulda survived what we've gone through."
"We survived." It was all Rude could say as he hugged Reno tighter against him.
Reno leaned against that broad chest, the chills beginning to die off. ..Then he reached up to touch Rude's face as he usually did after a breakdown, then leaned in, stealing a short but still breath-stealling kiss. ..not so much to reawaken, though it would be nice if it did. ..but more to assure himself that this man he loved would still be his when all was said and done.
Rude's breath caught in his throat at the touch of Reno's lips, and he kissed back shyly, clumsily. There was that tiny spark of passion behind it, but not enough to encourage Reno to push forward.
Reno however needed none. ..his eyes filling but not overflowing this time as he pressed his toungue inside...a feeling of intense connection and more than abit of rlief washing over him at the even smallest response.
At the touch of Reno's tongue, Rude pulled away, his face pink and a strange sounding laugh on his lips. "You make me feel like some kind of virgin," he said in between chuckles.
Reno's face showed just the tiniest bit of hurt before it faded, and he laughed too. ..scratching the back of his head bemusedly. "It's comin' back, just bein' slow. .. too slow for me ta be honest, but I c'n wait too. ..Gods know you've been patient enough with me"
"I know we've done--" Rude gestured with his hands, "--this before, but... It just all feels new and... I want to take it slow. I'm sorry."
He nodded. .part of his healing was learning to be patient. So he just curled into that strong chest again. ..eyes sliding closed. he didn't expect a response but he said it anyway as he drifted off. "I love you, big guy."
The classic Rude grunt was the response he gave.
"He looks almost peaceful." was Elena's whispered comment as she loked in. "Poor guy's really been through the ringer. ..in a way I'm surprised that pill swallowing didn't happen months ago, but I'm glad it brought his own need to work through his own issues into light."
Another Rude grunt as the large man shifted, gently placing Reno on the bed and trying not to wake him in the process.
Reno whimpered at the loss of the big man's warmth before falling back into a deeper sleep.
"Rennan wants to see him, and Ms Berry called, said she'd be coming by later to get the rest of the information and plan where to go from here. I wasn't sure if he was up to seeing his son yet."
"Don't think I'm who you need to ask," Rude said softly, nearly shooing Elena from the room as he exited behind her. He closed the door quietly, then turned to the blonde. "Let him sleep. He needs it."
"He does. .he's slept so little. . .but he needs us around him, too. ..especially you. ..he sees you as his white knight, you know. ..I know, you don't think you deserve it, but he does. ..you're the best guy he's ever managed to land, and you make him happy." she smiled gently. 'how about some Wutain? I brought some of those noodles you love so much with me...we can eat them in the cafeteria."
Rude's smile couldn't possibly get any wider without breaking his face. "Real food," he said in a voice usually reserved for afterglow.
"Yep, I have some general tsao's for him when he wakes up too. ..for some reason he likes that sweet stuff that leaves you wondering where the heat was when it hits." she chuckles.
Rude just smiled and shook his head, gesturing for Elena to lead and he would follow.
Elena strode down toward the cafeteria, setting the box with the paper cartons on the table,. Drunken Noodles, general tsao's chicken, sweet and sour shrimp, fried rice, lo mein, and normal rice being revealed as she popped the lids on the cartons, plus a whole gallon of Wutain green iced tea.
Rude just gave Elena a look that asked if she expected him to eat all that, or even MOST of it.
"There will be plenty of leftovers, believe it. ..Tseng and Rufus will likely be coming down for lunch soon enough and I figured spare them the cafeteria food."
"You are a saint," he said, grabbing a pair of chopsticks and digging in.
"I try..." she heard the sharp click of heels. "shoot, I'd hoped she wouldn't get here for a few hours yet. .. he really needs the sleep. ..maybe she'll be nice and have lunch with us first before she bothers him."
Rude's lips formed the word 'harpy' before Ms. Berry's form nearly exploded into the cafeteria.
"Where is Mr. Tarshil?" she demanded, her heels making a stacatto step as she stalked towards them.
"Sleeping... he is in desperate need of it." Elena kept her tone even. ...not wanting to aggravate the situation.
Rude felt it best to keep his mouth as full of food as possible. It was easier for him not to say something derogatory to the woman if he did that.
"I need to speak with him immediately. There's been some new developments in his case." Ms. Berry's tone indicated that she was used to being in charge.
"You know where it is, but go gently, he's still quite sore."
Rude had to swallow quickly to avoid choking on his food. Did Elena just reference what he thought she referenced?
"Thank you," Ms. Berry said, spinning on a dime and stalking quickly back towards the hallway, the clacking of her shoes sounding almost like a firing machine gun.
Reno sat up at the sound of the heels, rubbing his eyes in a boyish manner, working to get his hair into some sembelance of order. ..he looked better, and a hell of a lot more stable this morning, though damned if he wasb't still in pain. "m'here, come in."
Instead of sitting, Ms. Berry chose to stand over Reno's hospital bed. "There will be no custody battle. You are the last surviving relative of Rennan Kendrick. Sign these papers, and he's yours." She tossed a folder full of paperwork on Reno's lap.
Reno signed, then looked up at her. "What happened?"
"Someone broke into her cell. Her throat was slit. When an officer was sent to notify her next of kin, her parents were found in the same condition." Her words were clipped and held just a hint of suspicion in them. "There are no leads."
"I think I know who did it. .." He peered at Berry with suddenly thinking eyes. "Do you know of a boy named Shion Xiiang?"
"No."
"He was one of Krastof's street kids. ..he is also...Tseng's son." He sighed, shaking his head. "Fuck. ..I gotta call Rufus and let him know the shit just hit the fan."
Rufus' phone rang, and rang, then finally went to voice mail. He was a little 'occupied' at the moment to worry about a little ringing phone.
"Boss, keep a watch on yourself.. .that kid killed Trish's entire family, and something tells me Tseng's next. ..then I'm likely on his list after that...just do me a favor and watch your backs." Message left, he turns to Berry. "You should probably watch your own back, too. Anyone who has had anything to do with this mess is liable to have that little assassin after 'em."
She nodded, taking the folder from Reno. "I'll mail you the copies once the judge signs them."
Michael TW Kelley: Reno let out a loud whoop of happiness once he was sure Berry was gone, then called Tifa..no, he wasn't happy Trish was dead and he worried about Tseng, but he was happy the battle was averted.
"Hello?" Tifa asked, sounding a little out of breath.
"Tifa, Rennan's mine." He explained everything. "BUt I need you to keep a good watch on him until the final paperwork goes through, the little assassin of Krastof's is sure to make a go for him."
"Will do. Keep your eyes open as well."
"Will do, He's likely to go after Tseng and Rufus, too, but I left a message for them to watch their backs."
Tseng was so involved with his dick buried deep into Rufus' ass he didn't even see the shadow on the wall. . .
Rufus' eyes flew open, a moan coming from his mouth as Tseng once again his that lovely spot inside him that made his bones turn to jelly. He saw the shadow on the wall, but figured it was Dark Nation... until he heard the cuahl's low warning growl.
Tseng's head was yanked back, a dagger at his throat, his almond shaped eyes just barely catching golden skin on that tiny hand and dark almond shaped eyes so like his own.
Eternally calm and collected, Rufus glanced at the boy dressed in black, holding the knife at his lover's throat while said lover was still buried inside him. "Isn't it proper to introduce yourself before you go about threatening people with knives?" he said calmly to the boy.
"Oh, he knows exactly who I am. .don't you. ..Father?"
The raise of an eyebrow was the only sign of shock Rufus showed. "I see. However, WE have not been introduced, and as I'm sure you can see, your father knows me rather well."
"You are why he abandoned us. ..why Mother commited Hari Kiri the day he left Wutai. ..why I was sent away to live with some Wute bastard who didn't even know my name. ..how do you think I knew how to find your little redhaired pet, hmm? The one I was sent to knew him well."
"Tseng," Rufus said carefully. "Was there a reason I was unaware of this?"
"By law. ..he is not mine. I never suspected he'd ever leave Wutai. ..but he is my shame, my eternal damnation.."
"I don't suppose you would give us the dignity of 'parting company', if you'll excuse the phrase," Rufus said, his eyes locking on the boy's.
"Once I've done what I came to do. ..but by then I doubt it would matter...besides, one of the favored Wutain methods of assassination is to take the kill at the height of one's passion. ..it is the method of execution used for homosexuals in our land, is it not, 'Father'" the term was spit.
"Yes. ..it is."
"I would have thought something more cruel a punishment for such a 'heinous' crime," Rufus said thoughtfully. The little Reno voice in the back of his head said something about going out with a bang before cackling maniacally.
Suddenly, another soft growl, and the dark-furred cat had yanked the child off Tseng without even bothering to keep those claws sheathed. ..
Tseng took a small nick to the main artery in his neck, not enough to bleed him out completely, but certainly enough to leave him staggering, as his son was yanked off of him by the large feline that now had him pinned face down to the floor.
Rufus smiled down at his cat, sliding to the edge of the bed since the movement had pulled Tseng from him. "Are you all right, Tseng?"
Tseng was holding his hand to his neck, trying to staunch the flow from the cut the dagger had caused, his face was a bit pale, but the stoic man nodded as he got to his feet, going into the bathroom for the first aid kit and the potion inside, as soon as he had sipped a bit of it and spread some of it over the wound, the bleeding stopped.
Rufus carefully picked up his shotgun, not bothering with clothing as he casually walked over to where his cuahl had pinned the boy. "Good girl, Dark Nation."
"So, you're just going to kill your stepson, are you?" the boy spat. "Oh. ..and you'd best have your pet watched, and his son. ..Anthony's brother wasn't happy to have the little whore's knight kill him."
"There was a saying my father had that I do believe I'm starting to appreciate," Rufus said, still keeping the shotgun aimed at the boy, even though he had no intent to shoot him. "Children should be seen... and not heard"
"Fuck you." the child spat at him.
"That is your father's job, my dear boy. Now," Rufus cocked the rifle, more for the noise and threat than to actually plan on using it. "Would you be so kind as to tell me you name?"
"Shion, Shion Dou Xiang."
"There. Now was that really so difficult, Shion?" he asked.
"I hate you fucking world-killers." the boy snarled.
Reno meanwhile was curled up on his bed, he did not notice the youthful strides coming up the hall.
"Can I help you, son?" A male nurse asked the boy.
"I need to talk to him alone a moment, if you please. ..it's personal, family matter."
The man looked the child up and down. He couldn't be more than 15. "I'll need your name, please?"
"Richard Marlow sir"
The nurse took a pen from the station he was standing next to and jotted down the boy's name on a piece of paper. "All right. Just don't be too long. Mr. Tarshil should be sleeping."
"Yes sir." He strode into the room, noting it was darkened, his target curled up around himself in the bed.. .
Reno only got a chance to yelp before he was wrapped up in the sheets and carried out of the window.
As the nurse went off duty, he forgot to tell those coming in for their shift about the boy who went in to see Mr. Tarshill, and no one seemed to hear the noise the man made.
"Tseng," Rufus said casually. "Don't they teach dicipline and respect for your elders in Wutai anymore?"
"This one was not raised there, but it is obvious he has been trained in the Bushido arts,"
Elena took one look in the room as she and Rude came back in and immediatly knew something was wrong. "He's gone. ..and he could barely sit up, much less walk."
Rude frowned, his eyes darting around the room for a clue. After a moment, he pointed to the bed. "The sheet."
"Would it be safe for us to let him up? Dark Nation seems to be getting bored with her prey," Rufus said with a smile.
"I say we imprison him in the wutain manner. .chained hand and foot."
"The sheet's gone. ..and the window's open. ..."
"And his phone's still here," Rude's voice had a definite defeated tone to it.
"I have seen you get out of worse than chains, Tseng. And he is your son..." Rufus warned, freeing a hand to pat his cuahl on the head lovingly.
Tseng thought a moment. .."Do we still have that swing"
"I'll go get Livewire...he seems to have been taught to track Reno's scent. .maybe the cat can find him."
Rude hoped so, he really hoped so.
Rufus' smile was purely evil. "We do." He paused. "Dark Nation, let him up. Slowly."
Shion as soon as the cat was off him darted out of the window. .. listening to the little beep in his ear that got louder the closer to Richard he got."I could not terminate target one, have you acquired target two?" he spoke into the microphone in his collar.
"Target, shmarget," Richard's drawl crackled slightly over the line. "I got the whore."
"I am on my way in, be prepared with the tranquilizer gun, the whore has one of those damn beasts too."
Elena brought Livewire back, and the cat began to sniff, following the trail.
"Got me one better," Richard's smile could be heard over the line. As he moved, he tossed a the ball of materia he'd picked off the redhead.
Reno just looked at the man, inside he was terrified, but hr was getting sick and tiired of being victimized. .."Let me go, you fucking asswipe, or I swear to fucking all the gods that you will die the most painful death possible."
Richard smiled as he trussed up the whore. "You gots yerself a pretty mouth, there," he drawled.
"Rude's going to tear your fucking ass apart. ..I hope you enjoy it."
Elena looked over as Livewire took off at a dead run. . ."Let's move!"
"Oh, I plan on it... but not until Shion gets back. He's got a few plans for you, too." Richard's smile in Reno's face showed that the teenager was missing one of his front teeth.
Reno judst spat in his face as the little Wutain assassin jogged up.
"Where's your pa?" Richard asked the younger boy.
"Had to escape without him, got pinned down by a shotgun wielding ShinRa and his fucking cat."
Richard laughed. "Getting sloppy, eh Shion? This a little too close to home for ya?"
"No, though I'd prefer not to have had to worry about the blond bitch"
Elena did her best to keep up with the cat, hoping Rude was still behind them, she was worried sick for her comrade.
"You worry too much." Richard scratched himself. "So... now what? Do I get to play with him now?" He gestured at Reno.
"Go ahead. ..leave some of him for me, though."
"Aww, didn't know you liked 'em that way," Richard's missing tooth was more prominent with that grin. He turned to Reno. "Me and you's gonna have a lot of fun, whore"
Reno looked from the kid, to Richard, then back to the kid. ."You, don't make me laugh, I doubt you have enough dick yet for me to even feel it. ..as for you. ..I'm gonna enjoy watching my husband kill you"
"I gots me more than enough for what I'm lookin' for," Richard said, unzipping his pants and letting his flaccid flesh flop out. Truth be told, the 15 year old must have hit his growth spurt early. He pulled a handgun from the waistband of his pants. "Now, play nice or I'm gonna hafta mess up that pretty little head of yours..."
Reno's jaw clenched. ..he spat "fuck you" as the guy jammed his dick into his mouth. ...he silently prayed 'Rude. . .please hurry. ..please find me. ..' when he heard Livewire's roar from a distance...
Richard held the gun against Reno's temple. "Ah, yeah. That's it. But no teeth, ya hear?" He tapped the gun's barrel against Reno's temple. "Too much teeth and my finger might slip." A loose chuckle fell from Richard's lips. "Hell, my finger might just slip anyway..."
Elena could only watch in utter horror as she waited for Rude to catch up to her. ..
Reno had tears streaming down his cheeks. ..feeling horridly and completely dirty. ..he bit down definatly. ..almost as if daring the bastard to shoot him.
"Fuck!" Richard shouted, his finger squeezing the trigger. However, the teenager's poor gun cleaning habits caused a misfire, making the weapon nearly explode in his hand.
Even with the loud bang that defeaned him Reno didn't let go, he knew the bastard had to be hurting when he tasted blood in his mouth. .. he diidn't even think how he'd cheated death.
Elena heard the backfire and yelled for Rude.
"Goddamn motherfucker!" Richard yelled, pulling himself from Reno's mouth, looking down, and promptly passing out from the sight.
Rude was huffing as he jogged up to Elena. Man, was he feeling out of shape.
Reno faced down Shion, his eyes glittering with terrified rage.
"You do realize just who I am, don't you?" the black clad boy asked, his fingers hovering just above his belt.
"My supervisor's kid. ..and right now I could care the fuck less. . .you just backed a junkyard dog into a corner. ..not too fuckin' bright. .."
"shouldn't we step in, Rude? he can barely stand. ..he's in no shape to fight that kid."
"Good," Shion said softly. He began circling Reno, keeping just enough distance to where the man couldn't reach out and grab him, but close enough to where he could strike quickly when the desire struck him.
Rude placed his hand in front of Elena. "We step in now and we startle them both. With as addled as Reno's been lately... he won't be the first to react."
Reno's eyes narrowed. ..electricty could be felt in the air as his fury built...he lifted up the bracelet that held the two stones. ..unbeknownest to Richard that stone was not a ruby. ..but a summon materia. ..as he took a deep inhale Ramuh appeared in a flurry of green globules. ."you like playing with lightening, kid?"
Shion's little smile didn't falter, his thumb touching the jewel at the base of his still sheathed dagger. As the smile widened, the sound of the ocean could be heard louder and louder, until it rivalled that of Ramuh's thunderclaps.
Reno however had an ace up his sleeve. .. his limit break element was lightening. ..and he was able to feed a bit of his own limit into Ramuh's attack as he called out "Judgement bolt!" his own energies had gone into the attack as well as Ramuh extended his shaft and struck the boy with the enhanced attack.
The oceanlike rumbling sound grew still louder, but no summon had appeared yet. Shion's smile did not leave his face, even as his limbs threated to give out from under him as he felt the electricity travel through him. Soon. Very soon.
Reno had the energy for one more summon before he passed out. .. but he held out. ..no fucking way was this kid taking him down without a fight.
"I haven't seen him this focused in. ..Gods only know how long. .. you think he's going to do it?"
Shion reached into his shirt folds, touching the green stone on the pendant he wore as he felt the first wave of water splash across the warehouse floor. "My mother's gift from her deathbed," he said with that eerie smile. "The water dragon of Wutai."
"He's a fool!" Rude's voice exploded from his throat as he realized just what the boy intended to do. He moved as quickly and as quietly as he could, climbing down from their position in the rafters.
"Mine from Tifa. ..this stone has more than one summon . ..." He summoned Phoenix. ..he knew what was coming. ..and at least if that thing managed to take him out, he'd manage to slap the kid pretty good and the firebird would bring them back. .he barely clung to his feet, but he stayed on them, glaring down Shion.
"Your firebird will not help you," Shion said, taking a few steps backwards as the water continued to rise. Soon, it would reach his waist and he'd be better off swimming.
"It'll bring my ass back so I can smear yours all over the fuckin' place. .." then his voice rang louder. "Rude, you mind givin' me a bitta hand here? if he manages ta take me down. ..kill him for me. ..An' ya know, I've never seen your limit. ..bet it's neat."
"Bet it is, too," Rude said over the sound of the rising water. His arm went around Reno's shoulders, keeping the redhead standing.
"Hope swimming lessons were part of your training," Shion said as he spread his arms, the water suddenly rising even faster until it was over their heads. The boy smirked at them underwater, touching his pendant again, and swam towards the surface.
Reno as the water washed over them, was yanked under, but instead of struggling he focused. ..pulling himself to the surface before calling "Phoenix flame!" the huge flare reaching out to Shion, it would hit him dead on.
Had he not had the shell's barrier, he probably would've been killed. However, Shion's weakened state wasn't that terrible since he held that shard of underwater materia in his pendant. He swam as quickly as he could, foregoing the surface for one of the windows that he could break out and escape through.
Rude swam quickly towards Reno, ignoring the child for now. It was better to save the redhead than worry about the little ninja.
Michael TW Kelley: Reno floated at the surface on his back as that last attack had wiped him out and the magic of the phoenix only worked if he died. .which he had not. .. he was wiped clean however, completely exhausted. . .
Tseng arrived just as Shion broke through the window, his eyes immediatly meeting his son's. "It's me you want. ..why do you bother with the smaller fish?"
"The better to torture you with, Father," Shion spat, pulling an elixer from the bag at his hip and downing its contents quickly.
Elena finally pulled herself from the slowly-draining water. "Is he. ..?"
"I am the better ninja than that, Shion. ..something you should know." He draws the katana he had brought, his eyes focused, he had donned the traditional Wutain fighter's gi.
"You would kill your only son?" Shion's voice held a mockingly incredulous tone.
"When he endangers all that I hold dear because of his own prejudices. ..not that I wish to. ..I would much rather you give up your hatred. ..I did not kill your mother. ..the ones who pushed me into the marriage when I did not wish it did that. ..the ones who would not accept my choice on who to love did that. "
Rude when he set his fingers on Reno's neck would feel a slightly weak and fluttery but still steady pulse.
Shion slid his hood back, pulling down his mask as he did so. Finally showing his face to the man that fathered him, anyone with eyes would realize that he was the spitting image of his father at that age. "You knew how fragile she was. You knew how much she depended on your strength."
"I was driven from Wutai by the elders. ..simply because I fell in love with another man. ..it is time the old ways died. .there would be so many fewer children like you on this planet if the old ways died."
"You knew what it would do to her if you left!" Shion's voice broke in the middle of his yell, showing just how town between childhood and adulthood he was.
"I didn't choose to leave. ..do you not think I haven't been burnt by the shame of what they forced me to do every day since?" His own voice cracked, showing clearly that he meant it.
"You could have repented! You could have repented and saved Mother's life!" The boy's fingers were white as he balled his fists.
"And be false to my own heart? I would have been no more good to you had I done that and died inside than I am now."
"But then Mother would still be alive." Shion's tone held that venomous accusation at its tip.
"And I likely would not be. ...It is time the old ways were laid to rest, Shion, once Yuffie takes power they WILL be, and there will BE no more children like you who lose their fathers over stupid prejudices that should have died LONG ago. I LOVE him, I never meant to hurt you, but I would have killed myself being forced to live in a world I never wanted. ..you MUST understand that"
Elena can only stand and watch. ..closing her eyes as she ran her fingers through long red strands of silk. ..praying to all the guardians that Shion would see the logic in what his father was saying.
"You love him?" That incredulous tone was back. "Ha! You love him no more than you did Mother and I. You are nothing more than ShinRa's lapdog, his WHORE. He came in with all his promises, and you were swept away. Not once did you glance back to see the effect it would have on Mother and I. Not ONCE."
Tseng closed his eyes, he could feel the burning shame..."He kept his promises. ..he gave me his ring. ..his fortune. ..his heart. .." He holds up his finger with the gold carven-rope band on it. ..the symbol that Rufus had indeed kept every promise he had made his wutain Guardian. "I admit I never loved your mother. ..I was forced into the marriage, I never wanted it. ..but I do love you, and have never stopped wanting you. ..if I had known that she died, I would have taken you in, in a moment."
"Then why did you abandon us? You knew, you KNEW what they would do to Mother and I." Hot tears of anger streaked down Shion's face. "You knew that we would become outcasts, that our family would be shamed. Your selfish actions brought a stain of dishonour to the entire clan! But no, you were too enthralled with your benefactor to worry about your poor family!"
Tseng could only turn away. ..he knew Shion was right. ..but he also knew."Perhaps..but someone has to stand up for what is right. ..and no one else would. The traditions are wrong when they force one to go against their own heart and force them into marriages they do not want. They lead only to pain."
Reno groaned softly as he awakened to see a flash of blond and white stride to stand beside Tseng now.
"What is right?" Shion's voice broke again as he drew his dagger. "When you went against the traditions for your own selfish ends, were you doing what was right? When you chose to lie with this... this... ShinRa butcher instead of watch over your son, was that right?"
"What is right is that people be allowed to love whom their hearts dictate. ...no matter what gender they happen to be."
"When you left me, was that right, Father? Was it? Was that your foolish idea of right and just?" The boy's face was red and tear-streaked with his fury.
"I didn't choose to leave you. ..I did not WANT to leave you behind, I was FORCED to. ..but no. ..it was not right to leave you. .I do realize that. .." he dropped his katana. ..seeming to welcome whatever punishment the boy saw fit to give,
As Tseng's katana fell, Shion seemed to draw into himself, wrapping himself in that cloak of superiority and aloofness that he had at the beginning of the confrontation. "Then make a choice, Father." He took a single step backwards. "Make a choice. Stay with the ShinRa... or come back to Wutai with me to rebuilt the family honour"
"I cannot come back. ..you know now I cannot. .." his look to Rufus told where his feelings lay. "It is not I that needs to change. ..but the old ideas of honor. ..the old ways must fall so I can love whom I choose and still have my honor."
The words 'you have no honour' lay at the back of Shion's tongue, but he swallowed them. If that was the way it was going to be... "Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?"
"Not a thing."
"I see." Shion's tone of sorrow was misleading. "Then know this, Father. Our deaths are on your head." With his last words, he drew a pair of shuriken from inside the folds of his shirt and threw them with blinding accuracy into Rufus ShinRa's chest. Directly after, he took his dagger and plunged it into his own abdomen, pulling the blade through flesh and internal organs from the corner of his hip up to the bottom of his ribcage.
Tseng lept to Rufus side. ..signalling for Rude to call an ambulance, he knew that Rude was there. ..he held his son on one arm.. .his husband on the other.. .his eyes widening. .."Hurry, please. ..hurry. .."
Reno stumbled out as well. ...his eyes as wide as saucers. ..he knew he did not have the energy for it. ..but he did it anyway. ..calling out "Phoenix flame. .." as soon as he felt the lives of the two slip away.As soon as the words had left his lips, the redhead wobbled on his knees. ..crumpling first to his knees, then falling onto his back..
Rude tossed his phone to Elena directly after dialing the number for the ambulance. He rushed to Reno's side, holding the redhead as he felt him struggle to keep conscious.
Reno looked up at Rude.. "did it. ...did it work. .?" before his eyes slid closed.. .his pulse growing thready. ..very thready.
Rude glanced over at Tseng, hoping for a good answer.
Tseng nodded as the color begins to return to both Rufus' and Shion's faces. ..the wounds healing.
Rude fumbled with one hand in his pockets. He knew he had something, anything that would keep Reno with them long enough for the ambulance to appear.