When he got back, Rennan would be sitting at the table with Elena doing his homework. . .rare occurance, Reno ususally helped him eith it.
"Where's Reno?" he asked the pair, realizing that he'd left Josh's box in the car when he came up from the garage.
"Bedroom, he's been asleep since we got here, so naturally I stayed until you got home."
"Thanks," Rude replied, making his way into the bedroom quietly.
Reno's forehead was damn near hot enough to fry an egg on, even the last time when he'd been in bed for three days he hadn't been this hot.
Rude's motions were quick and efficient. He drew a bath, keeping the temperature just below normal body temperature to start, so as to not shock the redhead's system. He carefully carried Reno into the bathroom and set him in the water, holding him up so he wouldn't fall asleep and drown.
The cold water roused him a bit though his words were muffled "How'd I get here? m'cold. .."
"You're burning up."
He nodded, his eyes sliding closed before whispering "Haven't felt like this since I got bit by that Zolom back in training." His throat was parched, voice rough. Something Rude would likely remember, he and Tseng had gotten chewed a new one by a then 18 year old Rufus over letting his lover get injured.
"When was the last time you were bit by anything?" Rude inquired, feeling the water and trying to decide if he should empty the tub and draw another bath for the redhead.
He shook his head, he hadn't been though Rude would remember he'd been so sensitized to the venom by then that if his skin came into contact with it or anything that it was used in processing of, it made him sick. There was one of the antidepressents he'd had to be taken off once because it had given him this same reaction.
"You think it's allergic?" Rude asked, "You need to go to the hospital?"
"m'okay for now. ." He leaned into Rude. ..Rude would have to drag his half-dead body into the place , he would not go back willingly.
Elena popped her head in. "There was a fine white residue in a square shape on the table. ..Rennan mentioned you'd gotten a package from the institution in yesterday's mail. .you know he reacts to anything that has Zolom venom in it. .you may want to have that residue analyzed just in case."
Considering just how half-dead Reno was acting, Rude felt it prudent to take him to the hospital anyway. "Could you keep an eye on Rennan, please? I'm taking him whether he likes it or not," he asked Elena.
"Sure thing," she turned around and saw Rennan was in the door, holding up a little baggie. "I got this together, Auntie 'Lena. "
"Thanks," Rude nodded, going about packing a bag for both he and Reno. He carefully got the redhead out of the tub, drying him thoroughly. He dressed him lightly, then made his way to the car, ignoring any protest the slighter man might give.
Reno did protest "Don't wanna go. ..if I never see a mint green wall again the resta my life it'll be too soon."
Rude didn't say a word in return, just moved the damn box Josh had sent to the back seat, placing Reno on the front seat and taking off quickly for the emergency room.
Of course he knew why Rude was being this cautious, the incident with the anti-depressent had been a very close one, and he himself was beginning to wonder if the powder residue on the box was a coincidance.
Rude shook his head, as if he read Reno's mind. "They use a chemical powder with Zolom's venom in it to test for contagious diseases on suspicious packages nowadays. You can't get away from the shit."
"So I noticed. .feel like. .." and he stuck his head out the window, the retch making it feel like his stomach was turning inside out. "Ugh."
Rude didn't say a word, only pulled up to the emergency room door and parked the car.
The doctor who came out with gurney shook his head with a bit of a frown. His face said "At least it's not an injury this time." as the little redhead was loaded up.
Reno frowned the whole time, the bath had made him a bit more lucid, and he was NOT happy about being here.
Rude, however, since Reno was in the capable hands of the doctor, he chose to park the car and find out just what was in that package from Josh.
When he opened it up there would be a dvd and one of those small travel DVD systems in it.
Rude rolled his eyes, his expression a clear 'what now'
He'd also see a little note in the bottom and when he opened it up it would say "So you'll never forget. ..by the way, how is the competition?" When he turned the player on it would be the DVD another of the kids had made with the camera that records straight to DVD, it was he and Rude clowning that one day at the park, him up on Rude's shoulders, the big bald man laughing and smiling.
Rude watched the whole disk, all the way until an image of he and Josh, the young redhead pushed against a tree while an equally young Rude was devouring his partner's mouth. The voice behind the camera mentioned, "Better shut this off before Rudy gets pissed an kills someone for it." It reminded Rude of what had gone on that day. He and Josh had left the others, going into the forest trails by the park to avoid having an audience. Josh had demanded Rude take him, holding up a tube of perscription strength mako-laced gel which he had prepared himself with earlier that afternoon. They had spent over five hours in those woods, Rude buried to the hilt inside Josh.
The rest of the note read. "I could be that man for you again, Rudy. ..get you away from the responsibilities which frighten you so much. I know you never were one for responsibility."
If the words did not ring so true with his current state, he wouldn't be sitting in the car, his lover -- no, husband -- in the emergency room, wanting to pleasure himself to this video.
"Just let him go. ..let him go into the good night, Rudy" It would seem his voice rang in the bald man's ears "I'll still be here. ..I'l always be here for you."
Rude couldn't stop himself, regardless of how guilty he knew he was going to feel afterwards. He set the player on the dash, fast-forwarding it to the part where he and Josh were making out. His hand slid into his pants, where his hardness was already waiting for a touch. When he spilled himself moments later into a random napkin from a random fast food place, the guilt hit like a brick wall.
It seemed Josh's voice would echo again. " He doesn't deserve you, Rudy." before a doctor came out, looking for him, had a sheet of paper in his hand.
"I don't deserve him," Rude replied softly to the voice in his head. He quickly tucked himself back away, stepping from the car as if nothing were wrong to meet the doctor.
"Sir, the baggie you gave us contained a potent antipsychotic. It was the combination of the zolom venom used in the processing of the medication that caused the reaction, but the other main ingrediant in it is known to make the reaction worse. "
Something of course with Josh's extensive knowledge in chemistry, something picked up from years of drug manufacture, he would know.
"Why am I not surprised?" Rude sighed, his hand going to rake through non-existent hair. "How is he doing?"
"Still feverish, but responding to the medications, he should be ready to go home by the evening if he continues to respond favorably."
"Good," Rude said quietly. "Is he awake?" Rude certainly hoped not, just so he would have time to wash the guilt from himself.
"No sir, he had to be sedated, he had a sudden rise in his body tempertature and began tearing his iv lines out." The doctor's tone said he'd had enough experience with Reno as a patient to know his feelings on needles.
"I see." Rude's tone held a tiny hint of relief in it. "Would you mind if I went to his room to borrow the shower? It's been a long day already."
"Certainly sir, I'm sure he'd like it if you were there when the sedative wears off. ..he asked where you were."
Rude nodded, indicating that he would follow the doctor to his partner's room.
The doctor led him back, Reno looked for all the world as if he was simply sleeping...as if he hadn't had yet another brush with death at the hands of his husband's psychotic ex. His face held a bit more color than usual, but that was more than likely just the fever.
Rude shook his head, the guilt settling in fully as he moved towards the bathroom, fully intending to take a shower.
Reno of course when he woke up would likely ask him why the HELL he didn't just kick the bastard to the curb, even though he knew the answer. For a man who said he didn't want any responsibility, he took his to Josh pretty damn seriously.
"Hey," Rude said, smiling at Reno as he put down his paper.
"hey. ..I feel a little more lucid. ..bastard called you, by the way, left a message. I know it was him from the number on the phone."
"He's not allowed phone privlidges," Rude mentioned, his face curious. "Did you listen?"
"Yeah. ..asked how you liked the gift."
Rude sighed. "It was just a video of... old times."
Reno snorted, then looked away. "Did you like it?"
"Brought back some memories of some of the better times we had," Rude replied, feeling that was safe enough.
"Fucking hate him.. I know why you'd want it, though. .no responsibilities, no kid and pet to worry after. .just sex, drugs, sleep, more sex. ..I used to like that too, until it just started feelin' empty.".
"Memories are nice, but they're just that, Reno," Rude said, his tone indicating that he was a little hurt by Reno's words.
Reno winced, he knew he'd hit a nerve. "m'sorry. ..m'not thinking straight, probably haven't been since I found out about Josh. M'just tired of his shit. What, are they going to have to take away his mailing priviledges before we have some damn peace?"
"It's already being taken care of," Rude said. He had asked the doctor to call the home in his stead to report what Josh had done.
"Good. .question is.. .how'd he get into the database to KNOW about my sensitivity to it? I think it's time we upped our network security." Reno, of course, being the resident security expert, knew he'd be given that job, in fact, he wouldn't be surprised if Rufus called him to make sure the back doors were shut the second he got home.
"With all the trouble lately, things have gotten lax. It was why I had to visit the building yesterday."
"Yeah, you're the pyhysical security expert, I'm the expert in making sure the computer network's secure. 'swhy they partnered us the first time, each having skills the other doesn't." He chuckled. " If ya get my laptop I can get ta work trying to patch up some of those holes from the wireless network."
"Not until you're better," Rude said, knowing that Reno could be a worse workaholic than Rude sometimes.
Reno pouted a bit but nodded, he knew Rude knew he got into at it times, though in this case it was just him wanting to be completely safe. Sure, the knowledge was dangerous in Josh's hands, but if it ever got into the hands of someone who was like Krastof and had a grudge against him personally or against ShinRa as a whole it would be deadly.
Rude nodded back, acknowledging Reno's agreement. "They said you should be well enough to leave this evening. No overnight stay."
"Thank God. .hate these fuckin' green walls."
"I know."
With that he leaned back, figuring if he slept his way through he wouldn't be so damn bored.
Rude sighed, taking his paper back in hand.
When evening came and the paperwork arrived Reno was still sleeping, he looked LOADS better than he had when he'd arrived,.
Rude finished signing what paperwork he could. He gently shook Reno, calling his name softly to wake him.
"Hmm. . .was havin' the nicest dream. ..we were drinkin' pina coladas on a beach an' you were. ." and he suddenly realized where he was, and who else was there, blushed a little and signed the rest.
"I was what?" Rude asked, his breath soft against Reno's ear.
He whispered into Rude's ear. "You were makin' me screech your name right there, half in the water an' half out."
"Might have to do that," Rude said with a tiny smile, stepping back to let Reno out of the bed.
He stood, a shade wobbly, but he was up, "After I get that damn network secure."
"We'll see," Rude teased, helping Reno regain his balance.
Reno quirked a brow, and as they reached the car gave him a slightly disconcerted look before asking in regard to the dvd player and disc "Ya mind if I get ridda these my way?"
Rude sighed, then turned his head away as he nodded.
Reno removed them from the car, then taking his spare emr from the backseat he beat the hell out of them, finally sending a pulse of electricity through them. "Better, much better."
Rude had kept his face turned from the scene the entire time, his own memory providing more than what the video ever could.
It finally went up with a rather satisfying "boom" and he got into the car.
"Home?" Rude asked, hoping that's where they were heading.
"Yeah, I can do what I gotta from the desktop at the house."
Rude nodded, driving towards their condo without another word.
Reno when they walked in the door as he'd suspected had a message on the machine indicating the breakin in their network, but it hadn't been just his medical records that had been downloaded. ..indicating it was far bigger than Josh, or Krastof, or Shion. .the floorplan for the new building had also been downloaded.
Rude peered over Reno's shoulder. Everything, every single minute detail, had been copied and downloaded by an unknown user.
"Do you know if Krastof was top dog? Or was there someone higher?"
"He was it," Rude said plainly, trying to figure out who would want all that information about them.
"Maybe onea the older kids took over. ..Barons HATED ShinRa, still do, partly over the plate. ..an' partly over the fact that onea us got away and is now workin' for 'em"
"None of them were smart enough for this," Rude protested.
"You thought I wasn't smart enough for somea the stuff I've managed, either. ..'spossible. ..'spossible they have backing from elsewhere."
"Who would do it?" he asked. "Who would have something to gain from this?"
"That's the question. ..who has reason not to like Shinra at the moment? Who has reason to want Shinra to fall right now?"
"ShinRa doesn't have the best name right now, but the President is starting to garner support again"
"Except among one particular place. . .and they would have the resources to convince what is left of the Barons to help. . .And they'd have reason, good reason. . .they lost their asassin becausea the boss."
"Wutai will never support ShinRa again without another war bringing them into submission."
"Well, until the princess comes inta power, anyway. ..and even then 'sgonna be a fight. 'Sparta the reason they opposed Tseng marrying the boss in the first place. ..because he's technically the princess's family now and they can't move against him directly without garnering disfavor among those who support her."
"Wutai's a proud nation. Even Yuffie will have a hard time getting things moving the way she wants," Rude pointed out.
"Like I said, even then ''sgonna be a fight, but she's got a lotta supporters."
"That still doesn't tell us who would want all that information about us," Rude said. They had even gotten into his full arrest record, including his charges while he was a minor.
"I think it's obvious. ..if the plot they have involving the building plans fail. ..they'll try ta discredit us. ..Tseng's Yuffie's cousin, they can't act against us directly because she does have supporters. .if she didn't have the support of anyone below the age of say 40 they wouldn't be using Krastof's castoff kids to do their work. It's those who don't want the changes doin' this."
"Which still doesn't tell us why."
"They figure if they can bring down Shinra. ..They'll discredit Tseng, and in doing either discredit or cow Yuffie. ..therefor, no changes."
"What good would that do them?" Rude asked rhetorically, even though he knew Reno would probably answer.
"They want to preserve the old ways. .what they don't realize. ..is change is gonna come whether they like it or not. You can't hold back the tides of change forever."
Rude shook his head for no real reason at all. "So... what are we going to do? We can't just rebuild the whole damn building. The President just couldn't DO that right now... And even if we found whoever did this, who's to say the information hasn't already gone out to who knows who."
"We cut the head off. ..once we remove the head from the body, the animal dies, right?"
"Or like the hydra two come to take its place," Rude said carefully. He was well aware of how some of the gangs worked, where once the leader was gone, either the gang disbanded or a different leader, sometimes two or more, took the previous one's place.
"I meant take down the ones we know are behind it. ..we know the elders who are resisting change are the ones behind it. ... you find a way to take them out of power. ..the gangs will disperse. They won't have the funding OR the influence necessary, or the brains for that matter, to be anything more than a nuisance."
"You can't be serious," Rude said, his eyes wide. "You can't just take out the Elders of Wutai and expect the world not to notice... or even more ridiculous, accept it. It will be seen as a declaration of war, Reno, be it in Godo's eyes or the rest of the world's."
"I didn't say it'd be easy. ..but isn't that what they're doing? Declaring war on us pretty much? If the world discovered what we just have. ..maybe. .maybe they should. It'd take some sneaky shit on my part. "
"No, no it's not what they're doing to 'us'." Rude's tone was rising as he spoke. "What happened with Tseng's boy was a personal vendetta. What happened with Josh is a PERSONAL matter. What happened with everything is a fucking PERSONAL matter. The fact that they all coincide is just a coincidence." Rude took a single, sharp intake of breath before continuing. "And if YOU were to do something so STUPID as to attack one of them openly, it would be considered the beginning of a war ShinRa CAN'T win this time."
"Taking out everything we worked for is more than a personal fucking vendetta. ..look at the points they have outlined." He had found a way to break into the mainframe and close it back behind him with none the wiser, he pointed out the plans that had gone with the schematic,, with support points of the building highlighted, and dates. "They are going to have it taken down in the MIDDLE of winter festival. ..do you know how many people that would kill if they aren't stopped. Now, it's only initials on the plans, but this is from the mainframe in Wutai's capital!" He sighed. .."Tell me it's just a personal vendetta. ."
"I will NOT help you wage a personal war against the entire, might I mention, SOVERGN Nation of Wutai, Reno," Rude's voice was loud, but firm. "If they plan to send people to destroy the support pillars, we take those people out. Until they do something that requires the world to pay attention, we behave as Turks, NOT as SOLDIERS."
Rude was right. ."Sorry, yo. .just. ..I think about alla the people that died 'causea my hand. ..you think I wanna see that again?"
"You can't save the world alone, Reno," Rude's sigh told of a weariness far beyond his now 29 years. "Even were I to help, we couldn't possibly save the world alone. We're Turks; we work in secret, in back alleys with cloak and dagger. We do what we can to keep the nastiness that the ordinary person doesn't need to see hidden from them. ShinRa Company doesn't have the personnel OR resources to fully handle whatever this is leading up to... and probably won't for quite some time. Until then... we do things as we always have."
He nodded again, all he could see is what had led to this wild idea. ..the screams of the people who had died when he'd brought down he plate. He NEVER wanted to have the blood of that many on his hands ever again. "I'm gonna send these to the boss. ..and a copy to Yuffie, too. She's got power n' influence we don't. ..YET"
m
Rude's words came out far harsher than he'd intended, the weariness tainting everything, even his posture. "Do whatever you feel you must." He walked into the kitchen, fully intent on getting something that would burn down his throat to settle warmly in his belly.
With that, a copy of those went to Yuffie and to Rufus' email. ..he headed into the shower, once he did is when the shakes hit as he realized. ..just what it was he'd proposed. It would be a while before Rude realized his partner and husband had been in the shower MUCH longer than normal, and the water was still running.
Rude had taken to drinking his shots of tequila straight from the bottle. After what seemed like forever, but was only in fact half an hour, he wandered into the steamy bathroom. "Reno?" he asked the steamed shower doors.
He was just standing, eyes wide and empty in horor as he completely absorbed just what he'd suggested. He realized now how much more death and destruction doing such a thing would bring, and he said so before stating. "I was seeing Rennan. ..or you. ..trapped there an' I lost my head. ..I can't believe that even came outta my mouth. ..shit. What are we gonna do if they succeed, though. ..what's gonna becomea the boss. ..what's gonna becomea us. ..?" It was a question he knew Rude probably didn't have an answer to. Most of Reno's adult life had been spent under the employ of Rufus or his father. . .he had for so many years literally HAD no where else to go.
Rude set the bottle down only long enough to strip down to his boxers and socks before grabbing the bottle again and stepping into the shower. "Here," he said, handing over the bottle and somehow managed to not get any water from the showerhead into it. Rude? Intoxicated? Never.
Reno took a deep, shaky swig, feeling the burn all the way down to his toes. ..relishing it, reveling in it, letting it ease the shakes before uttering one more single soft and muttered "Shit." He was to be truthful. ..Hell, he was more afraid of what he KNEW they wanted to than he even was of losing Rude.
"We do our jobs. We do what has to be done. Other than that... we deal with what we have to," Rude said carefully, his words slurring only a little.
Reno nodded, holding onto Rude, shaking a little. "I love you. .an' again. ..m'sorry for even THINKIN' that."
"You were... were trying to do what you thought was left--right," Rude replied, the amount of tequila he consumed starting to catch up with him.
"You should try ta get a nap, sleep somea that off. ..Boss'll probably call or email once he gets the stuff I sent 'im, so I GOTTA stay not only conscious but somewhat clear headed."
"'M fine. Worked two almost full days straight. Should get a day off or something..." Rude mumbled, stepping out of the shower with his bottle and dripping on the floor while he looked, one handed, for a towel.
He gave Rude a kiss and about all but tucked him in when the phone rang. "You got what I sent then? Yeah. .I about flipped when I saw it. ..m'more clear headed now, but yeah. ..ya think we c'n get Avalanche and somea Reeves men on this this? I mean, the new tower is sorta Reeve's baby, he'd probably prefer it NOT get toppled at the heighta the holiday season,."
"I will see what finances allow," Rufus replied, which was clear Rufus speak for 'I have no idea what the money situation is, but I know it's not anywhere NEAR as good as it was at the height of ShinRa's power'
"Gotcha... though I'm acourse lookin' more at the casualty list than the bottom line. .I got some personal stake in this..." He grunted, thinking about all the deaths more than the money.
"We will do what we can, Reno," Rufus said, and the redhead would be able to hear the frustration in the blonde's voice.
"Gotcha for now, I gotta get dinner started. ..Thanks boss." with that the line clicked closed and he started some steaks, the smell filling the house.
Rude, having had his bottle taken away by Reno, quickly made his way back to the kitchen at the smell of cooking red meat.
"Steaks, new potatoes, green bean casserole, even got a cake in there. . .needed distraction."
"Jesus, Reno, it's just the..." Rude paused to count. "Three of us."
"you know I cook for an army when m'stressed."
Rude just nodded, going to the fridge to find something to drink.
"There's tea on the top shelf, as well as some lemonade"
It wasn't exactly what Rude was going for, but he took down some lemonade mix anyway. Maybe he could get Reno to let him mix in a little tequila.
"Just a little yo, I want ya to still be able to walk when bedtime comes, yo. ..I can't carry you easy."
"I can walk," Rude said, offering a tiny smile to Reno as he downed a shot.
And why do I have this mental image of Rude falling on his ass on the way to bed?
"What's with the drinkin' anyway? I know you can't still feel bad about what ya did to save your ass. ..and you normally only drink by yourself when you've done something you know would piss me off. . .usually ta give ya the courage ta tell me."
"Had a taste for it?" Rude said, hoping against hope that would satisfy Reno's curiousity until the tequila gave him more courage.
"Sh, right. Give me a shota that, I have a feeling I'M gonna need it when ya get the courage ta tell me what's on your mind."
"It's nothing," Rude said, trying to cover his predictability. "I just had a taste for tequila... good tequila... from home, even."
"Bullshit." With that he grabbed the bottle, pouring himself one.
Rude sighed, reaching back for the bottle without another word.
"Come on, if ya don't get it out in the open, it's gonna eat you up, and me, because I'm gonna be wonderin' if it's worse than it really was."
Rude shook his head, feeling another shot burn down his throat to settle in his already warm belly. He looked at Reno, really looked at him, and felt himself begin to stir.
Reno gave a "sch" sound of frustration then and got up "It had somethin' ta do with that video, didn't it? 'sonly thing I can think of that happened today that would bug ya that much"
"Yeah."
"I knew it. ..you.. ." and it suddenly dawns on him. "You fucking pulled your fuckin' pud to that thing. .so. ..what was on it... .you bangin' him into the ground. ..or BEATIN' him into, hmm?" His eyes lit not so much with anger as hurt.
"It was just a kiss," Rude sait to the tabletop.
He just shook his head. "It's the fact you even THOUGHTA him while doin' that. ..when you know how I feel. .." His tone got quiet, the kind of quiet that spoke of hurt too deep for yelling, for anger.
"Which is why I didn't even want to tell you in the first place!" Rude replied, his tone much louder than he intended. "I just... I was caught up in the moment -- you know, that MOMENT you're always talking about? -- and I was remembering how happy I was that day, and it just kinda... happened."
Reno just sighed, shaking his head. "Seems ta be happenin' a lot with you lately." He hung his head, yeah, he in some ways was just as guilty, and he knew it.
"And you're not just as guilty usually? At least I bring it up to you"
"Never said I wasn't,. .only difference is nonea the people I've been with have been tryin' ta kill you."
"It was just one time, Reno," Rude said pointedly, even though his words slurred slightly. "Don't tell me you've never done it thinking of the President."
"Not in a long damn time. ..I. .I thinka you. .." and it was the honest truth. He just looked up at him. "Shit. .let's just drop this, I don't have the energy. " He bent in and kissed him.
To which Rude kissed back wholeheartedly, not wanting to continue arguing about something he felt guilty about enough as it was.