Tseng had the house filled with the smell of the cinnamon and ginger scented coffee that was so popular here, the scent of Meylin's breakfast eggs filling the house along with it, They had an hour to be at the gravesite, and he wanted both of them at their best.
The combining smells were heavenly, and had he the decorum of a certain redhead, he would certainly desire something more done with his morning erection. As it was, he stood, pulling on his robe as he slipped his bunny slippers over chilly toes before making his way towards the bathroom.
Which was why Tseng was already in said bathroom, waiting, those dark brows lofted just the slightest bit with his expression what for Tseng was teasing.
"Are you planning on christening the bathroom as well, Tseng?" Rufus asked, beginning to brush his teeth.
"Perhaps. .I know you well. .you are as randy as Reno, even if you at more decorously than he does."
"Why Tseng. Perish the thought. I am no where near as insatiable as he is... but I am more refined about getting around it." Rufus winked, finishing with his teeth and turning to look at his lover.
Tseng chuckled, before sliding the robe down and pressing kisses to his back and the back of his neck.
"However, my dear, dear Tseng, I'm beginning to wonder if YOU are as insatiable as he..." Rufus said, the words falling into a moan as the elder man's lips slid over a particularly nice spot.
"Perhaps. ..perhaps it's YOU who stir it in me, m'dear." He smiled as he bent Rufus over the bathroom counter, running his fingers over that shapely ass before sliding open a small drawer that held his stepmother's cosmetics, dipping his fingers into her pomade, it would work as well for what he had in mind as anything else. The cold, slick gel was slid over Rufus' entrence, then over himself as he continued to kiss his way down/
The chill of the pomade made him shiver almost as much as the sensations of Tseng's words did. "You make me feel like a child compared to you, sometimes," Rufus teased.
"You are ten years younger." That smile was in his voice that was always there at times like this. as he slid first one finger in, then two, spreading and lubricating him until all resistance was gone before sliding in in one swift, smooth motion.
Rufus' head moved backwards quickly, exposing his neck as he gasped far louder than he intended.
"Remember. ..we must keep quiet. .you can do that, right?" Tseng's voice was playful, a bit teasing, before he nipped at the side of Rufus' throat.
Rufus nodded quickly, his hand going to his mouth so he could bite down on the fleshier part of it to use as a muffle.
Tseng began to move then, biting his lip to keep himself silent, so that the only sound in the room was the slap of flesh against flesh and the sounds of their own shivers, he made sure to aim to brush against that spot inside Rufus each time.
Rufus' whole body shuddered, his hips moving back to meet each of Tseng's thrusts. "Please," he managed to say around his makeshift gag. "Please..."
Tseng touched him then, driving deeper and harder, he could feel the serpent beginning to uncoil in the pit of his belly, but he held off for this one he loved as he stroked in time with thrusts that had begun to become almost savage.
A far louder than intended groan left Rufus' lips, and he bit down on his hand to stifle the even louder moan of pleasure as he spilled himself.
Tseng gasped, just that slightest sighing sound of contentment as he filled Rufus to the brim almost. ..before stepping back on shaking legs and starting up the shower, he already had his traditional ceremonial garb out on the bed. "My father got a surprise for you as well."
Rufus' brow furrowed as he stepped into the water. "Oh? He didn't have to"
"More than one, actually. ..he wishes to perform a traditional ceremony for us while we are here. With a special dispensation by the princess it will be legally binding, even. ..your holdings already are mine. ..the ceremony here. .will make it so my holdings are also yours." Tseng smiled, it had been the surprise he'd been keeping from his lover ever since he'd talked to Yuffie. "She wishes to light fires that should have been long ago, and most of the younger population agrees."
Rufus' mouth worked with no sounds coming out. Tseng had done it; Rufus was speechless.
Tseng simply smiled, kissing that wide open mouth before whispering "Come. ..we've showers to finish, and breakfast to eat before getting into the ceremonial garb, so we'd best get moving."
"I am not familiar with this aspect of Wutan tradition," Rufus mentioned, his tone indicating that he did NOT want to do anything that might cause disfavour towards Tseng or his family.
"It is also part of the culture that you bring dishonor upon yourself by refusing a gift. He does not much care about whether he is favored by the elders or not, his words, when I said as much to him were and I quote 'The elders can get blown.'" Tseng chuckled slightly as he cleansed himself.
Rufus' jaw dropped. He could not imagine such a dignified looking man speaking in a manner more befitting Reno.
"That should tell you how he feels about what the elders and the old ways have done to this country."
Rufus cleared his throat, pulling himself back into his usual cool demeanour. "That it does, Tseng. That it does."
"So, what shall I tell him? He wishes to do it on the day before we return to Edge."
Rufus took a deep breath, then a smile slowly crossed his face. "How could I deny the father-in-law?"
Tseng smiled as well, striding out, the kimonos were white, with red. ..the traditional mourning colors in Wutai. White for new beginnings. ..for in Wutai they believed that death was just another step, another beginning. and red for luck.
Rufus stepped carefully, taking a respectful position a step behind Tseng and to the side. The child was not his, but as the spouse of the man who's child had died, he had to show his respect. Regardless of how determined that child was to destroy him and Tseng.
Tseng helped Rufus into the kimono, dispensing with the traditional dress servents. Some traditions were a good thing, but that particular one was not one he adhered tpo.
"I still don't believe it right of me to be present here, being the one who brought about this circumstance," Rufus said softly. Guilty? Yes, he still felt guilty.
"You are my husband. ..and if Leviathan did not wish you here, some misfortune would have already befallen us."
"Don't tempt fate," Rufus warned, knowing full well what had happened to Reno and Rude when they had done just as much.
Tseng merely nodded, they had muffins and eggs for breakfast, Tseng taking great care not to soil his clothing, then drank his coffee, by the time they had finished the sun had just begun to peek over the horizon and it was time for them to go out to the temple.
Rufus took a deep breath, again taking his respectful position by Tseng's side. He nodded once to the elder man, an clear indication that he was as ready as he would ever be.
The small body was placed upon the ceremonial pyre already as they arrived, and Shion-wi took the first brand, lighting one section of the pyre, before handing it to Tseng.
Tseng lit a second portion, then nodded as he held the brand out to Rufus. .as the spouse of the child's father, tradition stated that Rufus, too, should be one of those to light the fires that would free the child's soul from his flesh so he could find the spirit realms.
A shuddering breath came from Rufus' lips as he slowly, very slowly, touched the torch to the kindling. The fire sparked up quickly, pulling a tiny gasp from the blonde, as if he expected the child to jump from behind the wall of flames and take both his and Tseng's lives.
Tseng quietly watched as the flames devoured his son's body. ..silent tears tracked down his face, though he did not seem to realize it as he began to chant the traditional hymn of the dead.
Rufus, unsure as to the proper-ness of doing so, carefully, discreetly, took Tseng's hand into his.
Tseng gripped the offered hand, as his father also took up the chant. Once the body had been fully devoured and the flames had died back, Meylin brought out a porcelin urn painted with cranes and other traditional images, and gave the couple each a pair of chopsticks, telling them they were to remove the bones first and place them into the first urn. Once the bones and teeth had been seperated from the ashes, another urn would brought out for the ashes to be swept into.
Rufus felt a little creeped out by the tradition, but stomached it nonetheless.
The two urns were then interred where the pyre had been, Tseng bowing in all four directions as an honor to the spirit of the one who had been interred there before whispering "Goodbye my son. ..I love you.. .I should have told you that sooner." He then strode back inside.
Rufus nodded once to the final resting place of the child, as if that could show his deep regret at the way things had turned out as well as his respect for those who had gone before. He turned slowly, following Tseng back inside just as slowly. It was... over.
Meanwhile, Reno was busy preparing for the Winter Festival and Shiva's Day, the tree had already been cut and set up, and he was currently outside standing on a ladder ATTEmPTING to affix a string of lights to the gutter and not having much luck, the suction cups the lights were packed with did NOT want to stick to the rainspout.
Rude shook his head. He sat on the couch, keeping an eye on Rennan, who was watching some cartoon or another, reading the paper. He had a mug of the hot chocolate/coffee mixture his mother used to make with a candy cane sticking out of it for flavour. Reno had a similar one, but appearantly those lights were far more interesting that Rude's warming liquid. But that didn't bother the bald Turk. He had his newspaper, and he was happy.
A yelp sounded from outside, and a loud crash, he HAD finally managed to get the lights to stick, but in doing so, he had overshifted his balance and the ladder had toppled backward, taking him with it. He waslaying on his back in the driveway, stunned, breath knocked out of him, and the ladder on top of him. He hadn't BROKEN anything this time as he had last year when he'd toppled OFF the ladder and broken his arm, however. ..he just cut a pitiful and somewhat hilarious figure.
Rude walked out the balcony, looking down at his redhead. "Problems?" he asked, taking a sip from his mug.
"Nope, just. .. could use a hand getting this damn thing off so I can get back inside. ..this ladder hates me, yo."
Rude chuckled, going back inside to pull on his shoes. He went outside without his coat, the chill not bothering him as much as it seemed to Reno.
"Come on," he said, helping to untangle the redhead from the ladder. "You break anything?"
"Only my pride this time, yo. ..I know, you didn't let me live downbreakin' my arm on the accursed thing all year after last year."
"You don't have to put them up yourself," Rude said, helping Reno back inside. He pointed him at the mug that was still steaming, waiting for the redhead.
"It's a tradition, put up the lights, fight with the ladder. ..kinda like screwin' in the mornin', ya know?" He took the mug appreciativly, sipping.
Rude gave Reno that look, glancing over to Rennan briefly before returning to looking at Reno with THAT look.
Reno blushed, yes, sometimes he forgot his mouth, but Rennan was so absorbed now inmn helping Livewire find all the ornaments he didn't even notice.
Rude refilled his own mug, smiling slightly as he took the first sip. "I can help you put the lights and tree up, you know. You don't have to do it yourself."
Rennan brought over a clay ornament now and he said "Papa. . .is this you?"
The photo inside showed a 4 year old boy sitting on the lap of a woman that from the back even you could tell was his mother, they were sitting at a baby grand piano exactly like the one that sat in their living room now. The boy's hair was cropped short in the photo, but ti was obvious who it was.
Rude raised an eyebrow as he took another sip. Best to let Reno field that one.
"Yeah. ..I've had this orrnament since I was 6 yeaars old. .It's gone everywhere with me. ..it goes right here. .." He placed it on the top branch, just beneath the star on top in the front.
Rude smiled, noting Reno's constant placement of the ornament every year in the same spot. Which was partly against his own tradition, one had had to give up recently. His special ornament, the one given him by his mother, was to be set at eye level by the child. However, once eye level for Rude became higher than the actual tree, he had to give up that tradition.
Reno's expression spoke a lot. His mother had helped him make that ornament, one in the shape of a star, and then had taken him to the pottery store to have it fired with bright red glaze the color of his hair. It was the last thing he really had from home, and he treasured it.
"I'm sure it means just as much to her," Rude said softly, pulling Reno close for a soft kiss.
"It's my first Winter Fastival with her. ." and he shook his head, the look on his face saying "Not gonna worry about, new traditions to make now."
Rude nodded, that soft smile on his face as he took another drink from his mug. He glanced over at Rennan, who was playing with a string of garland with Livewire. It felt very... warm. Comfortable. Homelike.
Reno went over to the piano, beginning to play a few old holiday songs his mother had taught him. "When it snows.. remember you have family to warm your heart." was how one of them ended, and it made him probably hadn't know he could sing too, the voice actually surprisingly deep compared to his speaking voice and tuneful. "Wonder how Tseng n' the boss're doin?"
"How or what?" Rude asked with that tiny smile on his face that always looked mischevious... even when he wasn't trying to be.
"Prob'ly both." He grinned.
"Yeah, you're right," Rude said, sitting back down on the couch to watch both redheads and cuahl decorate -- or at least in the case of Livewire, attempt to decorate -- the tree.
When it was almost done, both of them came over with sly looks. ..they had a little bow-wrapped package. "'sfor you. ..go ahead n' opebn it."
Rude looked down at the package that looked tiny in his hands, then back up at the two smiling redheads. "Isn't it a little early...?" he prompted.
"Trust me, this one you wanna open now."
"Oh?" Rude asked, eyebrow quirked. Something was up; he could feel it. So, without further question, he did just as he was told, popping the tape on either side before barely tearing the paper while he opened the package.
Inside was a beautiful gold picture frame ornament in the shape of two inconnected wedding bands, inside was the photo that Tifa had taken of he and Rude with ennan standing in between them. "Figured it was time we had onea our owbn family."
Rude's smile was soft and warm, much like the hot chocolate/coffee mixture he drank. He pulled both of them in for a brief hug before walking over to the tree, looking to find the perfect spot for the ornament.
Rennan practically glowed, then pointed out a spot that if you hung it the firelight would catch the gold in a way that it would gleam.
Rude grunted in affirmation, then gently placed the ornament on the tree, stepping back a few steps to look over the whole thing. "Perfect."
"It is, yo. ..Never thought after the year we had that we'd have somethin' this good, ya know."
"Tempting fate," Rude said carefully, picking up his mug and heading towards the kitchen for a refill, this time with a little aged, ultra smooth tequila in it.
"Like I said, I don't gotta tempt fate, she hates me anyway."
"No she doesn't. She just can't resist temptation," Rude replied, smiling as the tequila warmed him as only tequila could.
"I manage ta get into the darndest situations even when I don't tempt her, 'swhy I say she hates me." He chuckled softly as the phone rang. Reno groaned. .. Somce the boss was in Wutai with Tseng it could only be ONE thing.
Rude hadn't mentioned the shot he'd taken BEFORE putting some tequila in his drink, but he was feeling mighty pleasant... especially since he hadn't ate yet that day. He nodded to Reno, indicating the redhead should answer it while Rude made a trip to the little Turks room.
Reno after picking it up and listening to the man on the other hand CURSED loudly, the curse harsh enough and loud enough to tell Rude whatever the man had said was not pleasent. "Of course, just our luck he attacks a redheaded patient while we're getting the house ready for Winter Festival, GAH!"
Rude popped his head out the door, zipping up his pants with a look that asked Reno what was up.
"Your fucking ex attacked his room mate! they need you to go over there and give 'em permission to do anything necessary ta keep it from happenin' again."
Rude rolled his eyes, finishing up in the bathroom. He walked directly to the kitchen, taking another shot of the tequila before nodding too.
"I'll be back... unless you want to come. Don't think it's a good idea for someone though," he said, gesturing with his head towards Rennan.
"I'll stick here, yo. ..I've had enough of that fucking nutjob for this week."
"Language," Rude said out of habit.
"With any luck he'll be killed by another o' the patients." Reno, bitter. ...nah.
"Reno," Rude scolded, more for his own sake than Reno's. He knew how his partner felt towards Josh... but that didn't mean he had to be mean. "I'll be back soon."
Josh when he arrived would be fighting the two orderlies who tried to get him into restraints like a tiger. ..oh, and yes, he felt about the same about being held down or restrained that Reno did.
"Josh," Rude said as he walked in the room where Josh was being restrained, his voice dropping into near harshness.
"They tried to room me with HIM. ..I told them what would happen. ." his voice was singsong. ..eyes glazed over.
Scarily enough, the patient they wheeled out on a gurney DID look disturbingly like Reno. Not an exact match by any means, but close enough for someone in Josh's mental state to think it was.
"No, they didn't Joshy," Rude said, his tone getting softer as he spoke. "He's not here... he's not ever coming here..."
"I don't want HIM here...ever. Him or his bastard offspring. Only you, Rudy."
"He won't, Joshy, he won't," Rude said, his voice soothing.
"Sir, why were we not told he reacted violently to other redheads?"
"It should have been in his initial psych report from the courts," Rude said curiously.
"It was not. someone dropped the ball."
"So it seems," Rude said, turning back to Josh. He knelt down in front of the man restrained in a chair. "How are they treating you here, Joshy?" he asked.
"The food's good. . .We even got to decorate for Winter Festival." Those glassy eyes pinned Rude's. "I miss you Rudy. I never stopped loving you, you know." The tone was so sincered, even in his madness.
"I know, Joshy, I know. And I really do care about you, too," he said carefully, then blinked. He looked up at the orderly. "What is he on?" he demanded.
"Just the standard sedative used in violent patients, as well as antipsychotics."
That would explain the glassy eyes. "He was addicted to sedatives," Rude mentioned, since it seemed none of Josh's medical records got changed over to this place. He looked back at the redhead. "Are you going to be okay? I promise you he won't ever come here, so leave the other pretty redheads alone, okay?" There was that tiny, almost sad smile on his face.
"I promise." He leaned in, kissing Rude.
Rude kissed back for just a moment, feeling guilty instantly for doing it. He pulled away, that tiny, sad smile still on his face. "Be good, Joshy. I'll be back to see you for the holiday."
Josh nodded as they led him back toward his room.
"Sir, I want your advice on how to restrain him when he gets violent. This is not the first time he has been violent with another patient, but it is the first time he has seriously injured one."
"The mild sedatives are fine, but don't keep him on them for too long," Rude said, waving slightly to the retreating redhead. "And if he gets too bad, call me and let me talk to him over the phone. If it's really bad, call me and I'll come here, but please don't let it get that far too much. My husband and he don't get along very well."
The doctor nodded. "I did get the report that said he was placed here for attempting to kill Mr Tarshil in a psychotic rage."
"Understatement of the century," Rude muttered. "Just... don't keep him roomed with anyone, if you can help it. Please."
"Yes sir. I wish I could give you better news, but the antipsychotic drugs don't seem to be doing very much good."
"He was... is a drug addict. I'm not surprised."
The doctor nodded one more time before going to finish his rounds.
Rude sighed, deciding it best to chew some gum before he got back home and Reno started questioning things. It was bad enough he had to go there, but to ruin the redhead's day by telling him he kissed Josh? Not on Rude's To Do list.
One particular painting in the patient lounge would likely catch his eye, it was done during art therapy, It was of a man with no face and red hair crucified, the face seemed to have been intentionally left blank.
Rude didn't have to ask; he knew who had done that painting... and he knew for sure why Reno never could step foot in that facility. "Jesus, Joshy... what happened to you...?" he asked softly, pulling up his coat collar and going into the windy cold.
Reno when he got back had just brought the mail in, several of them Winter Festival cards. Even one from Rude's family, he was smiling at the photo card Gladys had sent.
Rude came in the door just before the snow started to come down. He shivered for a moment -- while he preferred cool weather, he could still get cold -- before taking off his shoes and heading right back for the tequila.
"Hey, check this out, your family's already sent us Winter Fastival cards. ..an' I got a package o' tequila from your mom an' brother."
"Already?" Rude asked, taking a shot before going over and kissing Reno soundly.
Reno kissed back, he nodded, "Denzel came over, Rennan's playin' with him an' Livewire in the park."
"He's a good kid," Rude said, pulling Reno close.
"He is.. M'sorry for what I said earlier. ..I guess. . .parta it is he SCARES me. .I look at him. .an' I know if you an' Tseng hadn't found me when ya did...if I hadn't just decided I was gonna get brave and try ta pick his pocket. .that coulda been me"
"It could," Rude wasn't about to lie. "But it wasn't. And... there's a reason he and I aren't together. You know that."
"I have somea his tendencies. ..the clingyness. ..though thank Shiva not to that extent." He was not about to lie to himself and say he was completely sane either.
"But you're not him... and that makes me... happy..." he said brokenly, as if trying to find just the correct words to say to describe his feelings.
Reno nodded, he was still trying to come to terms with all of the insanity of the crisis which had placed Josh there.
"I think... it would be best if you didn't go there with me to visit him," Rude said, muscles tensing as he expected Reno to fly off the handle at that.
"I have to...if I don't he's gonna think I'm afraida him.. I have to, at least one more time. " Ok, maybe he was being paranoid, but just as Rude needed a sense of complete closure, so did he. "And I need to prove it for myse;lf. .you remember the pill incident. ..I've been thinkin' since I did that. ..about a lot."
"I don't think it would be best for him, Reno," Rude said plainly. "He can't be around another redhead without going nuts, even on the drugs. That and..." he paused, taking a deep breath. "The only way I could calm him down was to promise him that he'd never see you again"
Reno sighed.. .shaking his head. "Shit.. ." He didn't get angry. ..or do anything besides that curse...he had thought so much about everything since the suicide attempt. ..but he had no idea how to articulate it, to get Rude to understand his NEED to put closure to that part of his life... and Josh had just denied him that.
"I'm sorry," Rude said softly, his gaze going to the floor.
"'snot your fault, yo. ..not really." his own voice was soft, he'd been doing so much thinking now that things were somewhat peaceful that sometimes he felt like his head was going to blow open.
"Doens't make it any better," Rude replied.
"Just. ..wanna get closure. ..I. ..I don't even understand it myself."
"I'm sorry. It's what I had to do." Rude felt more guilty about that than about the kiss.
"Nah. ..don' worry 'bout it now. ..not somethin' we c'n do anything about now, right?"
"Right," Rude sighed.
He kissed Rude deeply, closing his eyes."I love you...you're my white knight, yo. ..my port in the storm. ..you keep me from losin' m'self."
"You give me too much credit," Rude whispered against those soft lips.
"Sometimes I don't think I give ya enough." He smiled against Rude''s,
"Sure you do," Rude smiled. He pulled Reno's body against his, just holding him there and listening to the redhead breathe.
Reno listened to the sound of that heartbeat, so precious to him. ..thinking of how he'd almost lost it. ..and the one who bore it. ..forver. "I love you, yo. .and parta it. .I feel guilty because it was me he wanted dead.. .but you're the one who got hurt. ..just,. ..never leave me, please."
"Love you," Rude's voice rumbled in his chest before it left his lips. He pressed those lips to Reno's hair, inhaling the scent of him and smiling.