"We don't like your kind here."
Reno simply lofted a crimson brow and continued to bench press.
Rude rolled his eyes from where he was jogging on a treadmill. He really hoped Reno wouldn't make a scene. He really liked that gym, and didn't want to be blacklisted.
Reno had no intention of making a scene, but if one of the wo idiots started something, he had no problem defending himself.
One of the two leaned on the bar. "I said we don't like you ass-banging faggots around here."
"Too bad...take it up with the landlord, now buzz off, I'm workin' out."
Rude pulled his cell out of his pocket, stepping off the treadmill and towards the bathrooms. Once he was inside, he called Reno's phone, hoping the redhead would answer with just a 'hello'.
"Yo." But Rude would suddenly hear a grunt as Reno got up off the bench and was kicked in the back. Once the grunt sounded that was joined by the clacking of his bottom and top teeth together by the impact he could be heard to yell. "Who the fuck just kicked me?"
Rude's voice was a falsetto as he spoke. "Honey? Did you make it to the gym with Rude?" If he could get him to play along, he wouldn't have to worry about anything.
"I did, yo, but someone seems to have taken it into their minds that it's fun ta pick on the little guys, I know, lunch at 1, I'll be there after I pick up Rennan.." Then he was slammed so hard by a size 12 boot it knocked him to the ghround. ..the sound of the phone clattering across the floor would be heard.
Rude clicked his phone shut and just pressed his forehead against the wall, feeling the coolness of the concrete flow into his heated head. He was getting too old for that shit...
Reno in the meanwhile had taken one of the bars off the freeweight, his face. ..priceless expression of cockiness and fury mixed with his brows lofted. ..there were a couple of folk here who were about to get a good old fashioned Turk style beating.
One darted in, only to find a metal pole connecting with his jaw. ..the other when he did so found that same bar in the back of his head. The first one got back up, lunging at Reno again, knocking the lithe redhead down, but when Reno got back up he cracked the bastard across the knees. ..droppinbg him to the floor, then cold cocked him in the back of the head before returning the bar to the free weights, giving the sudenly cheering crowd a jaunty salute, and heading for the shower.. .was Reno tired of being picked on? Hell yeah.
There was a cluncking sound out in the gym, and Rude figured it best just to keep his head against that nice, safe wall. Oh yeah, definitely getting too old for that...
Reno strode into the shower room, not too much the worse for wear nbut he looked. .almost euphoric. ..THAT had been a better workout than the weights.
"Please tell me you left them breathing..." Rude muttered, not daring to look at the redhead.
"'course. . .but it was fun. ..no limit this time, just an aluminam free weight bar."
Rude just shook his head and sighed. Yup, that whole getting closer to 30 thing was starting to make him feel old.
Reno on the other hand felt so much more like his old self. .last night. ..had been simply incredible. He bent over and gave Rude a toe-curling kiss, That brawl had been just what he needed The kiss was nice, very VERY nice, but as he glanced over at the calander, he realized just why he was feeling older than usual. His birthday, his 29th birthday, was less than a week away. And quite frankly, the closer he got to 30, the more scared he was of being old.
And Reno two months after that would be 24. ..maybe that five year age difference WAS beginning to show. .he hoped not.
At thirty, one couldn't really be a kid anymore, Rude believed. Regardless of how mature he'd been at a young age, 30 still loomed like a dreaded storm seen just far enough away to see it coming, but too close to run away from. At 30, you had to be an adult. When you were 30, you became fully responsible for your actions. At 30... you grew up. And that bothered him for some reason.
Unless of course you were Reno. .or Cid.Cid stil acted like a teenager and he was well OVER 30. Reno however had other reasons to mature...one that he had to get back upstairs for in less than an hour, so if he was going to get rid of the post fight high he'd have to do it quick. He leaned Rude back against the shower wall, drawing the curtain. .thanking God this shower room had one. ..turning on the water, kissing him fiercely.
Rude returned the kiss, but his thoughts kept straying back to how Reno would take his turning old. Would he still love him when he was old? Would they still do what Reno was trying to do when he was old? Would he still be able to perform when he was old?
Reno seemed to read his mind and he whisperd "According to Vincent, Cid sure as Hell has no trouble in this department, an' knowin' us we'll be fucking, like rabbits when I'm well into my 90's and you almost 100." before atempting to eat Rude's face.
For some reason, that really didn't help as much as it should have. Rude responded as best he could; it could be difficult when Hurricane Reno had his sights set on the Island of Rude.
Reno seemed almost to climb him like a ladder, he couldn't care less if those assholes came in here, he'd give them a show to remember. clothes hit the floor with the smallest of rattling sounds. .. including the phone he'd picked up on the way in that now needed a new screen. he moaned gently as his tongue met Rude's, eyees fluttered half closed.
Rude found it easiest to just hold Reno's bottom as the redhead climbed him. It served a dual purpose, one which made Rude smile.
The water served to lubricate him plenty well as he slid down onto Rude, it hurt just a BIT more this time. but it was a sweet wonderful hurt.
To say Rude was surprised would be an understatement. He had expected some form of foreplay or even a little teasing, but to jump -- almost literally -- straight into the main event? Rude was pleasantly surprised.
This was Reno's reclaiming, both of the big man and himself. ..whereas the previous night had been sweet,, romantic. ..this was all wild animal lust as Reno braced his feet against the wall and moved over Rude like a summer storm over the big man's native land.
All Rude could do was hold on for the ride and hope he didn't drop the redhead.
Reno was panting as he moved, the breaths harsh, loud. ..only to become quieter as he heard people enter the locker room and head into a stall next to theirs. .. he hoped they were enjoying the show, because when the head of Rude's cock brushed his prostate he sure was.
Rude's head cracked loudly against the concrete wall behind them as he bit his lip to keep quiet.
Reno let out a harsh hissing gasp as with one more thrust and a little whirl pressed that spot in enough to send him barreling over the edge almost unexpectedly. ..he sagged againbst Rude for a few moments, catching his breath.. .before he slid down him, peeking into the face of a bulky blond with familiar hair over the wall of the shower that had his brow lofted. "Can't tell me you've never seen two people fucking before, Strife."
Rude's head made a particularly loud crack as he spilled himself inside the redhead. If he wasn't careful, he was going to knock himself out, and wouldn't THAT be embarassing?
Cloud just laughed quietly. ..that laugh that said HE had also seen the tape. "You two do know how to put on a show is for sure."
That brought a slight flush to Reno's cheeks. ..he did NOT want to think about the implications of Cloud ENJOYING what he'd seen.
Melting into the wall would have been totally AWESOME, according to Rude. It would at least save him the embarassment of having to look Cloud in the eye ever again.
Cloud simply smirked and strode back out from the shower. .. and was that hair that was sticking slightly out of the locket he wore. . .SILVER?
OK, Reno just lofted a brow . . .THAT created an INTERESTING thought and he might have to ask the blond about why he carried a lock of silver hair in his locket later. . .though he suspected he already knew.
Rude was too busy doing his impression of a wall to be bothered with much else.
Reno led Rude back upstairs once they'd both gotten redressed, riding both on the high of the fight and the sex. ..his smile wider than it had been since the hellacious year had begun.
Rude just tried avoiding anyone's eyes who looked at them longer than a glance. He was slightly embarassed by what had transpired... especially since Cloud had caught them in the act. He had a reputation to keep, after all.
Ok, so maybe Reno DID enjoy occasionally embarrassing Rude just a bit too much. ..but truth be told it was fun to watch the big man lose his composure on occasion.
Rude just went about making sure he was presentable before stepping towards the stairs. He just wanted to get back to the safety of their home and... wait for the embarassment to pass.
Reno as they came upstairs noted that Tifa was already outside the door with Rennan waiting for them. He KNEW she could in no way MISS the slight pink post-coital tint on his face, but he wasn't about to admit to it. Even if he was smiling so wide you'd think his face would break.
Rude cleared his throat, trying to make the redness in his face go away in front of his former crush object.
"Tifa. .why are my papas so red?" Ok, so the child HAD to ask.
Now RENO felt as if he wanted to sink into the floor.
"We just got back from the gym," Rude offered, hoping it would be enough.
Rennan nodded, seemingly satisfied.
Tifa however had a knowing look to her. .. had she talked to Strife on the way up?
Rude fumbled with his keys, finally getting the door open after a few tries, happily moving inside.
"I'll leave you boys to it, then.. . .I need to get back before my 1 pm opening time.
Rude grunted and nodded, moving towards the kitchen to make something for lunch. "Did you feed him?" he asked Tifa.
"Nope, he said he wanted some of those Drunken Noodles, so it looks like one of you is going to be calling." She smiled, the kid had picked up some of Rude's tastes in food as well.
Rude just smiled. "How about a peanut butter and jelly to tide you over?" he asked, knowing that even if they called at that moment, it would be at least an hour before the food showed up at their door.
Rennan nodded enthusiastically, then looked between his two papas and said "The kids were pickin' on me. ..one of 'em said havin' two papas was wierd. ..I wanted ta hit him, but Tifa said hitting people for words isn't nice. .." he seemed to hurrumph as he said that.
"She's right. ..it's not nice to hit over words."
Rude raised an eyebrow at Reno, his expression telling the redhead that he should practice what he preached as he went about making the three of them sandwiches.
Ok, so maybe Reno's temper DID get the best of him at times. . though in that case the words were usually accompanied by flying fists, or in this case boots. It hadn't been the WORDS that had started the fight, but the combat boot in his back.
In Rude's eyes, it still didn't excuse Reno's actions. He had to be a role model now, for his son. For -- he gulped mentally -- their son. Ah, best to go back to the sandwiches. They were safer.
"Though no one said if someone hits you that you aren't allowed to defend yourself. Hitting over words is not nice. ..but letting someone beat the tar out of you to back those words up is foolish."
Sandwiches, la la la, sandwiches... And they were done. Rude set three plates on the dining table, one for each of them, then sat down.
Reno sat down, chewing down the sandwich, watching Rennan do the same. He had made clear the difference in his eyes. ..he was not hitting for words, but to defend himself against the bastard who had decided to back up his words with a size twelve in his back, which, he might add, had left a fair size tread-shaped bruise that he was going to FEEL tonight.
It didn't matter to Rude either way. While he managed to seperate his job from his personal life as much as he could, that was one thing that had stayed in his mind since his mother nearly beat it into him.
Reno meanwhile had remembered the thing he had NOT yet done that he'd promised Rufus he would. ..finding homes for the kittens that would be here any day now. ..his first call was to the now 11 year old Priscilla. who responded "You mean it?" and a clattering in the background as she excitedly asked her grandma if she could keep the kitten. .it had taken a few minutes, but finally she came back on the phone with a happy sounding voice. "Grandma said yes!"
Oh yes, the kittens. The cuahl kittens. And Rude made it a point to give Reno the look that said, 'No, one of the animals is more than enough.'
His next call was Denzel, "You want one if Teef says yes?"
Rude could hear Denzel's affirmation from the other side of the table.
Tifa's voice could be heard saying as long as it didn't claw up her bar it was fine.
Rude's eyebrow raised at the whooping sound the brunette boy made over the line. Well, that was two taken care of. That left two to four more.
The next was to Yuffie who of course said "Bring it on, could use some excitement around this place." 3 down, 1-3 to go.
Rude's face clearly questioned the sanity that was giving Yuffie a cuahl to train. Damn thing would be stealing materia from everything just like the little ninja girl.
Finally, the call to Elena, to which one had been promised from the moment they'd found out Darkie was carrying, making sure she still wanted one.
Rude mentally tallied it up. If Dark Nation had four kittens, they were set. If she had more... Rufus was going to have Livewire's hide.
Then the phone rang again and it was Rufus, Dark Nation could be heard making what sounded like soft, pained mews in the background. ..looked like he'd made those calls just in time.
Rude took a deep breath, expecting the President to mention something about castrating Reno's cuahl again.
"We're comin', boss. ..an' yeah, we got homes for four at the moment, yeah, if she has more'n four, I got a couple more people I c'n ask."
"See to it that you do," Rufus said, his tone short. He was most obviously not a happy camper.
"Hey, Rennan. ..you ever seen a cuahl have kittens?" Reno figured it was as good a time for a biology lesson as any.
"No," Rennan replied, his tone doing that little wave children did when they got a little shy, but really wanted to see something.
"Then come on with Rude n' I. .your kitten's about to be born. ..along with the others."
Rude's eyes went wide. "What... kitten...?" he asked slowly.
"Actually, it's for his class." Reno chuckled.
There was a visable sigh of relief that passed over Rude's face. "Are you sure he's not too young?" Rude asked. He wasn't certain, but he had a fairly good idea that Momma didn't teach him about the birds and the bees until he was about 10.
"Never too young to learn." He was thinking, but didn't say 'Dad sure didn't think I was'.
Rude just raised an eyebrow to show his disagreement.
"At any rate, it's not like he's watchin' 'em bein' MADE, that I'd say no to."
"The boy still thinks girls have cooties," Rude protested.
"She's not a girl, she's a cuahl that thinks she's a housecat."
Rude gave him a look that said it didn't matter.
Reno groaned "Fine, YOU tell Rennan he has to stay in the bathroom while she pops 'em out.."
Rude stepped in close, not wanting Rennan to hear as he spoke softly into Reno's ear. "It's not my place to say, I know, with him not being mine and all, but I still don't think it's a good idea."
"And after fighting off Shion you think he can't handle it? I mean come on. .. he fried a 12 year old. ..but. .heh, tell you what, we'll see how he reacts, if he starts getting too squicked, I'll pull him aside."
Rude's sigh clearly said, 'okay. Fine. I'll compromise. But I am doing this whole thing under total protest.'
"Understood, yo." It was their first disagreement on how to parent Rennan, and would likely not be their last, but unlike a LOT of parents, they didn't scream and yell over it, they tried to find a happy middle ground instead.
"Which one of us gets the shotgun when he brings his first girlfriend home?" Rude asked quietly, putting on his shoes and jacket as he watched Reno get Rennan ready to go.
Reno had to laugh aloud at that "'slong as it's not onea Yuffie's an' she ain't pregnant, 'sall good."
Rude's raised eyebrow was a clear 'Just wait and see.'
Finally Rennan was completely ready, after spending ten minutes finding one of his shoes that had a screen print of Bahamut on the sides and a ShinRa logo on the sole which had been under his bookbag in the closet. ..they'd be seeing about the 2 bedroom condo in the morning that had just opened up.
Rude waited at the door and just shook his head. He couldn't remember being that disorganized when he was a child... But then again, he didn't remember much of being a child.
Reno had Rennan next to him, and damned if they didn't look like twins, each of them in jeans and t-shirts that said "Keep on rockin' in Midgar" on the front in screen printed letters with pictures of the monument behind them.
Rude just kept his eyebrow raised at their attire. He couldn't believe they went so far as matching outfits. At least he was different, in his dark sand-coloured khakis and crisp white linen shirt.
And out the door they went, they were a total of 15 minutes from the hospital, and Rno personally was GLAD to be out of there, he had no intention of returning for a LONG time if he could help it. As they strode in one of the doctors waved and had this look like "what are you doing back?" before he gestured in the direction of Rufus' room "Darkie's havin' her kittens" he explained.
Rude shivered. Birth... wasn't one of the things near the top of his 'to see before you're 30' list. In fact, it wasn't on the list at all.
Reno strode into the room, Rennan right behind him as he waved at Rufus, wincing just a BIT at the expression on the boss's face.
"You do realize that the entirety of this hostpital stay is coming out of your paycheck," Rufus said carefully. To say that he was NOT happy was an understatement.
"I did NOT give the idiot the idea to fire off two shurikan at you. ..nor did I father the one who did have the idea. .you can blame the you married for that...and I saved your life, too." His tone was teasing though, he was in a good mood.
"Consider it payment for the unexpected litter," Rufus ground out. NOT a happy camper at all.
"which if I'd just let you die I wouldn't have to worry about, besides I already have homes for them" again, that cheeky grin, coule on tell his reunion with Rude had helped his mood?
That glare could easily cut through concrete walls if left unchecked.
Reno just shrugged it off like he always had done. "Besides, you'd take food outta my kid's mouth? shame, shame." he laughed before kneeling next to Darkie.
Rude hoped he wouldn't have to physically restrain the President... but he would IF he had to. He shot Reno a look that clearly said, 'Don't antagonize.'
Reno simply pet Darkie, yes, he was teasing, but he also knew when to shut up. ..the scar above his eye told of how he knew that.
Rude kept one eye on the President, and one on Rennan. Both were equally unpredictable once those kittens started coming out.
Reno surprisingly caught the first one, and Dark Nation did NOT bite his hand as he cleared off the bag. . .it was female, black and white striped like her daddy but with her momma's amber eyes rather than her father's ice blue.
"Oh, GROSS!" Rennan shouted, pointing. "She's pooping out the babies!"
Reno pulled aside his son with a chuckle, leaving her to do it herself.
Rude could feel his stomach turn as he watched the kittens being born, so he turned and looked away... directly into the eyes of a still rather pissed Rufus ShinRa.
Tseng simply chuckled, shaking his head. "You know, it's really not so bad, sir, at least you don't have to put up with the kittens for more than a few weeks. ..as soon as they're weaned they're out of your hair."
"There should not have been kittens in the first place, Tseng," Rufus ground out.
"True sir.." but he wouldn't say, though the temptation was there. 'It's what happens when you leave a male and female cuahl alone in a hotel room'
Rude poked his head into the other room to check on Reno and Rennan.
Reno was showing Rennan photos of what the kitten would look like in three weeks or so. "Ain't it cute?"
Rude smiled at them, going inside to stand by the pair. It was far safer than letting Rufus anywhere near him until Dark Nation was done giving birth.
The second one was male and black like his momma, with his father's blue eyes. the third also male and a carbon copy off his papa. the fourth female and a carbon copy of her momma. ..then. ..a fifth. .male, black with one gold eye and one blue eye, tiny, the runt of the litter. ..as soon as Tseng said she was done Reno led Rennan out. "Take yer pick for your class, kiddo."
The little boy frowned. "They're not really cute at all right now," he said honestly.
"Newborns usually aren't. I sure wasn't, and neither were you, but they get cute."
After a few moment's deliberation, Rennan finally pointed to the first one that came out. "Because I watched it," he said with a tiny smile.
Reno picked up the little black and whiite striped female who licked his hand. "She's gotta stay with her momma for four weeks, then you can come and get 'er."
Rennan nodded, patted the little cuahl on the head, then went back to the pictures he and Reno had been looking at.
Reno took over guard duty then, watching the very disrguntled tied up child who sat next to Rufus' bed in a chair. "I see you haven't decided what to do with THAT yet."
Shion froze, his eyes shooting daggers at the redhead. He didn't speak, though.
Tseng shook his head. "though I had contemplated sending him back to wutai to stand before the tribunal."
"You cannot," Shion said pointedly, then went back to silence.
"We have a treaty with Wutai kid, and your pops here is the princess's cousin. .she'd do it."
"They will not show leniency to a traitor."
"No, but they'd listen to Yuffie, as annoying as the brat can be at times. ..if she wants you brought before the tribunal, they'll do it. ..so if you want to see 13, co operation is a good idea. ..as is not biting the folk that are feeding you."
Shion said nothing, but his posture and eyes said more than enough. He was not defeated yet.
Reno nodded to Rude and Rennan when they came out, he was entirely Turk now, those eyes only softening for a single moment as he tossed his son a careless smile.
"Hey!" Rennan shouted, eluding Rude's hand to run into the room where Shion was tied up. "I know you!"
"Yeah, it's the kid you fried."
Rennan pointed and laughed. "Ha! You suck!"
Reno tried not to laugh, REALLY he did, but his son saying exactly what he was thinking. ..it came out anyway. "You'll make one hell of Turk one day, kiddo."
Rennan continued pointing and laughing until a look flashed through Shion's eyes and the boy quickly shut up. He'd been hurt by the elder boy before, and while he was confident his papas wouldn't let him get hurt... Papa Rude would be proud that he was showing deco--deco--restraint. Papa Rude always used big words anyway.
Tseng glared at his son, his look spoke volumes
Reno then let his expression grow hard again. "You, you hurt my son, and your stunt damn near killed me, don't think for a second I'm gonna recommend them going easy on you. You hurt what's mine. ..well you now know what I'll do."
"I do not fear death," Shion spat.
"Good. ..but it ain't death you need ta be afraid of. ..it's what they'll do to ya before they kill ya." Reno lifted his shirt. .."You see the scars under the tattoo? The same bastard who took you in believes in the 'traditional' Wutain methods of discipline. I have no doubt he punished you you just as harshly. That's a field day compared to what the tribunal'll do.:"
"I do not fear death," Shion said again, his tone indicating that whatever they chose to do to him, he would survive and become stronger by it.
Reno merely smirked while Tseng talked on the phone with Yuffie.
"You leave for Wutai tomorrow. .. Godo has agreed to send you before the tribunal for actions not befitting a shinobi."
Shion just closed his eyes, not speak again, nor really listening to them any longer. He had to figure out how to get out of those ties that bound him before he was sent away.
Tseng knew he would, so he checked them, making sure they were nice and tight, with the tie in between that made it almost impossible to wriggle out of.
Or perhaps he would wait until the transport. He was almost certain he would not be guarded as well as he should be, what with being a child and all.
"Sir, may I request he be sent with Yuffie to guard him? you and I both know how dangerous he can be."
Shion schooled his features. If the Wutan princess was to guard him... it would be much more difficult. But not impossible.
Tseng when he received an affirmative grunt called her, she'd been staying with Tifa for the winter festival which was two weeks away.
After a deep breath, Shion opened his eyes again, just looking at the ceiling. He had some planning to do, and sleeping would not get that planning done faster.
"Of course I'll guard the kid. ..the brat's really been causing some trouble, and not just for Shinra but Avalanche too."
Rude grunted, pulling Rennan back closer to him. He still didn't trust the child, even if Shion was bound.
"She has agreed to guard him, Shake and Chekov will accompany her"
Reno watched someone he DIDN'T want to see be wheeled toward the exit by an orderly, but he didn't say anything, merely hoping the bastard hadn't seen him, he was here with his kid, and was tensde enough with Shion here.
"What's wrong?" Rude asked quietly.
Reno simply gestured toward the doorway where a familiar flash of red was wheeled by. "They must be releasing him today. .I don't want a confrontation with Rennan here."
Rude nudged him back into the room. "Then don't let him see either of us."
Reno nodded, walking back in, just as the bastard turned. ..those eyes held a cold expression. but Reno seemingly relaxed when he didn't act. . .saving his revenge for later, maybe?
Rude just took a deep breath. He hadn't seen Josh's look, but if he had... yeah, the revenge was definitly later to come.
Reno leaned into him, a slight shiver running through him. .."We oughta get Rennan home. ..you guys sure you'll be allright with the dick kid by yourselves?"
Rufus walked into the room, his white suit which he had just donned in preparation for his own release covered in cat... birthings. "You said you have homes for them all, correct?" he asked shortly.
"Yeah, Rennan's takin' one for his class, Laney's takin' one, Priscilla and Denzel are each takin' one too."
"That leaves one, Reno."
"And Yuffie's takin' one. sorry, forgot."
"Then I suggest you leave now while you still have testicles"
Reno darts out the door, unconsciously covering.
Rude followed at a slower pace, nodding to the President and the chuckling Tseng.