Way of Living
CloudxReno; occasional other pairings.
AN: hey, everyone was doing a collection of drabbles so I thought... why not? XDXD
xXx
(Tifa's POV)
I don't quite know how the beginning of his end started... It was all so sudden.
On a day I was in the bar, serving drinks and listening to worried, angry or even depressed words that came from the mouths of my clients when Rude entered the establishment. He came alone but I decided that his loud partner probably had more things to do than staying in the bar hours after work.
Cloud didn't come home that day.
On the next day, Rude appeared again without Reno. I thought that it was strange, both men being so close to each other and all, so I decided to ask for the redhead.
Good evening Rude, I greeted. Where is Reno, I miss some hyperactivity in the bar.
Rude stared at his drink. Reno died in a mission, he answered after a long moment.
What? It's not true, it is? I asked placing a hand on my heart as the glass I was holding shattered on the floor.
The former Turk nodded, putting his beer aside. Reno died two days ago, he stated simply before leaving.
The redhead wasn't particularly my best-friend but I couldn't help but being sad. A man with so much life in his thin body, it just seems too cruel. But then again, there was nothing that could be done... Reno knew that something like this could happen, sooner or later.
But on top of all, I was worried. Cloud hadn't show up yet and I was getting nervous. Whenever he left for a long delivery, he would always call to warn me but this wasn't the case.
I decided to share my worries with Rude since he was the man I knew better from those who entered Seventh Heaven every day.
He was pretty devastated when we told him, Rude stated as he sipped his beer.
Why he would be devastated, I asked cleaning a new set of glasses that I had bought on the previous week.
You don't know, the bald man asked me looking above his glasses.
Know what, I asked back, confused.
Cloud and Reno were lovers for some long time, he told me.
That's when it dawned on me. Do you know where he may be, I asked rubbing my forehead in worry.
He's probably still in Reno's apartment, that's where we gave him the news.
I thanked and started closing the bar, soon after picking up the keys of a small car I and Cloud had bought not too long ago and drove to the address Rude gave me before leaving the bar. I knocked at the door but nobody would answer so I used the key Rude had also given to me in case something happened.
It took a while to search the entire apartment but I finally found him.
He was sitting beside the window and looking to the rainy sky from Reno's bedroom. I could sense the smell of tobacco and alcohol but I had to wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room to take a look at my surroundings.
How did you know I was here? Cloud asked me in a faint voice, holding a cigarette between his index and middle finger of his right hand as he rested the elbow of the same arm on his right knee.
Rude told me everything, I stated walking to him and knelling.
You know, He interrupted me with a small smirk grassing his lips. I don't usually smoke or drink but... He cleared his throat, chuckling humourlessly before his face fell and all the sadness in the world settled on his eyes. The tastes mixed together remind me of him. Of how his kisses tasted, he cried sniffling before chuckling again with another act of fake indifference to his lover's death. I'm pathetic, aren't I?
No, you're not pathetic, you're just a human being, I answered and run a hand down his hair as he took another drag of the cigarette. Already used to the darkness, I looked around and saw multiple empty bottles of booze and stubs scattered across the room's floor, mixed with what it seemed like... Cloud, what have you done? I asked breathlessly, noticing for my first time that my knees were soaked with blood dripping from a deep gash on his left wrist.
I'm sorry; he chuckled humourlessly as tears ran down his once handsome cheeks. But I can't just find another reason to keep going. He was my reason; he dragged me out of my pity shell. But he isn't here anymore; he was forced to leave me like everybody else.
I started crying too but because I saw that Cloud was long gone, he had lost way too much blood for me to save him. I had to take to a hospital but he wasn't going to leave with me... He had fallen too deep into the abyss that was losing Reno. I know that, I know that now. I sighed, embracing him as he threw the butt of the cigarette away.
Don't worry about me, he asked, resting his head on my collarbone as I run my arms around his shoulder. I'm going to meet him soon and everything is going to be fine, you'll see; he smiled peacefully, looking to the distance.
A ray of sunshine shone through the dark clouds, falling graciously on Cloud's face and I could see how glassy his eyes were already. Those eyes once so blue, so vibrant... Now so dull, so distant...
I was selfish. I wanted him to stay with me because I was scared to be left alone again. I was scared that the feeling I had in my chest when he left because he was infected with geostigma would come back. I didn't care he was with Reno, Reno was dead and I was alive. If Cloud had given me the chance, I could have saved with from depression too, I'm sure of it.
Please, don't hate me, he pleaded, his voice a soft whisper in the wind that entered the room through the badly closed window. I tried to tell you once but you were so busy that I didn't want to be another burden to you at that time.
I shook my head, understanding that I could never do what Reno did. I wasn't there. I was always busy with the bar, serving drinks and listening to usual patrons while I wasn't there to listen to my best-friend who needed me more than those drunken men.
I'm sorry that I wasn't there when Marlene needed help with her homework that I wasn't there when Denzel got bullied at school... I'm also sorry that I wasn't there to return your feelings... you'll find better than me, he whispered again.
I kissed the top of his head, tears falling onto soft blond spikes. His time was running short and all I could do was give him the little warmth that I never had time to give him in life. You don't have to be sorry, you did nothing wrong. I was wrong all this time; I'm the one who needs to apologize.
Cloud chuckled weakly. You're too good for your own safety, Reno was like that too and he ended up dead... he whispered, closing his eyes at the ray of sunshine on his face. I guess it's time to go... He smiled a true smile, one so bright that it pained me.
I watched as he raised his healthy hand towards the sun and placed it on the glass of the window, letting it slide down and making a bloody trail down to the floor as the ray of sunshine diminished and disappeared.
Be sure to take care of him, you stupid Turk.
xXx
Theme: Taste
Word count: 1299
I couldn't find a decent ending to this crap so MEH! –Pouts- I'm sick, moody AND my hair's wet. Screw the world. XD
And ca ya believe I had this idea when I was eating cake? What the hell ma Mom put on the damn cake?!
btw, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Here are the themes already done and waiting to be done (I'll be removing the ones already done!)
Valentine's Day / waterfall / treasure hunt - still waiting to be written (SWW)
Beach / Hula - WIP
Snowboard - SWW
Cinema - SWW
Dentist - SWW
Cherry blossoms - SWW
Fight / Break Up - SWW
Reno fight over Cloud -SWW
Long business trip and reunion scene - SWW
Aerith's Birthday - SWW
Snowball fights / snow angels - SWW
A date in space - SWW
Caffeine/Sugar - SWW
Kiss - SWW (AH, ya thought that weren't more uses for lips, mouth and tongue, HUH?!!!!!!!!! Aline, I'll kill you! D8)
Porn Collection - SWW
Videogames - SWW
Disneyland - SWW
Painting Lesson - SWW
Session with a Marriage Counsellor - SWW
Popular Reno / Smart Reno - SWW
Lotion - SWW
Yazoo flirting with Reno - SWW
Mother (scene with Reno's abusive mother) - SWW
Kidnapped - SWW
Claustrophobia - SWW
Interrogation - SWW
Picnic - SWW
Bride!Reno - SWW
Disguise (Reno disguised as a woman XD) - SWW
Hurt (alternative, sad ending to Disguise) - SWW
Concert - SWW
Rain and Boom (RudexTifa, Reno gets a brother named Axel XD) - SWW
Cloud mistakes Axel for Reno, whose dead - SWW
Vacation - SWW
Reno's twin scars - SWW
Pets - SWW
Song - SWW
Dinner - SWW
Teddy - SWW
Birthday - SWW
Stalker - SWW
Spin the Bottle – SWW
Seduction – SWW
Proposal – SWW
Cutter – SWW
Dead Pet – SWW
Role-playing on the Bedroom – SWW
Purple Nail polish – SWW
Gift – SWW
I'm Fine – SWW
New Year – SWW
Comparison – SWW
Glasses – SWW
Photo Album – SWW
Karma – SWW
Hugs – SWW
Cloud teaches Reno how to cook – SWW
Addition – SWW
Breakfast – SWW
Puzzles – SWW
Turkey – SWW
Cheerleader!Reno – SWW
Reno fooling Kadaj – SWW
Shattered Dreams – SWW
Horror movie – SWW
Reno without hair gel – SWW
Hidden Truth – SWW
Long anticipated answer – SWW
Shopping – SWW
Setting an Example – SWW
Left Alone – SWW
Boredom – SWW
Taste: done
If you're thinking about any other theme, please ask for it on a review, signed or not :D I'm aiming to the 50 or 100 drabbles! (And if I forgot about any theme you already requested, please point it out Dx)