Authoress' Notes:

Well, I finally got some more work done today! Just to warn you, a secondary CloudxRufus pairing is coming up in a couple chapters- Renzoo will still be my main focus though!

Now, I'd like to point out yet again that, while they're somewhat OOC right now, I think it's pretty much justified. Reno wouldn't be the same deliciously cocky bastard he always is after losing Rude, any more than Yazoo would be stupid enough to fight back while recovering.

By the way, I know this is a ridiculous thing to be worried about… but, once you've finished the chapter, does it seem like my chapter titles are good choices? I've always been sadly insecure about my title choices…

Disclaimer: I dun own anything!

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Competition

Reno groaned, holding his head in his hands. Rude, buddy, I wish you were here. I could really use your help, yo. It was a few hours after Rufus had departed; a few hours after Reno had felt that unexpected blush spread across his cheeks. Reno was pretty sure Yazoo hadn't noticed it, but he didn't really know what to make of it. Well, being Reno, he knew exactly what to make of it, but he didn't know how to handle what it told him.

Now, Reno had always been pretty darn sure which way he swung, and it sure as hell wasn't towards boobs. It wasn't the idea of liking a guy that had Reno bothered. It was the idea of liking this guy. Reno turned to regard the slender form. He allowed his eyes to trace the pale, perfectly formed throat, the smooth skin, beautiful even with the bruises mottling the delicate face. Reno noticed how soft the silver hair looked, tangled as it was.

He sighed. Great, he thought. I've got the hots for the brother of the guy who… He shook his head violently. Rude… I don't know what to do, yo. I mean, this guy is cute as hell, but he's an enemy! You'd know what to do if you were here, yo.

Reno started. He'd been staring at Yazoo without really looking at him, but now he realized that the other man's emerald eyes were open, and that they were staring uncomfortably at each other. Reno was the first to break eye contact. He was about to go try the door again, in the hope that Rufus might have grown a heart, when it burst open violently of its own accord.

Yazoo sat up immediately, wincing as he unsteadily got out of his bed and stumbled into the far corner of the room. He sank down with his back to the wall and stared at the man before him. Reno had to hand it to him. Cloud Strife was a rather intimidating figure, even at the best of times. Now, with those mako-blue eyes blazing in anger, even Reno found himself backing up. Luckily, though, Reno found that he wasn't the source of Cloud's ire. Rufus Shinra, snark-man extraordinaire, rolled into the room behind Cloud.

"You couldn't have even TOLD me that you'd captured one?" Cloud was shouting.

Rufus chuckled annoyingly. "Sorry, Cloud. Must've slipped my mind." Reno watched appreciatively as Cloud's muscles bulged with restrained fury. Settling merely for a solid punch to the nearest wall, Cloud turned around, expression already far calmer. Reno figured he was having another SOLDIER mood swing.

"Reno…" Cloud started, impossibly blue eyes, Reno noted in annoyance, positively dripping with sickening sincerity and concern, "I heard. I… I'm so sorry." To his surprise, Reno was unable to reply, so he settled for a slightly tearful nod.

Cloud moved to go behind Reno, patting him kindly on the shoulder in passing, but when Cloud crouched down to regard the silver-haired man, Yazoo drew his legs up, hissing in pain at the movement. Cloud's eyes widened as he looked at the remnant's injuries. "What happened to you?" he asked cautiously. He didn't see how all of this could have happened when Yazoo had been captured.

Yazoo's eyes narrowed, and, even as he struggled to move further away from Cloud, he nodded slightly in Reno's direction. Reno, for his part, avoided Cloud's gaze. He felt his cheeks burning in embarrassment. Cloud's expression darkened. He'd just spotted the still un-bandaged wound on Yazoo's throat. He reached out to touch it, but Yazoo flinched and brought up a hand to defend himself.

Cloud turned to look at Reno questioningly. Reno finally met Cloud's eyes and nodded slowly. "I…" he started softly. "I haven't been doing too well since…"

But Cloud had seen the bandage on Reno's throat. He stood so suddenly that Reno leapt back and Yazoo tensed. Reno stood still as he felt Cloud's fingers tracing the outline of the bandages. At any other time, Reno would have been positively delighted to have someone as hot as Cloud caressing his throat, but he felt only guilt now. Cloud then did something completely un-Cloud-like. He pulled Reno into a hug. Reno blushed as he felt the strong, tight body pressed against his. He looked down and saw Yazoo smirking slightly at the stunned expression he knew he must be wearing.

Cloud released Reno, then silently walked over to Rufus. Leaning down, Cloud growled threateningly, "Next time, Shinra, you make sure you tell me right away." He stalked out the door, leaving Rufus, Reno and Yazoo in an uncomfortable silence.

At last Rufus turned to leave, calling back over his shoulder, "Reno, I'll leave the door unlocked for you, shall I?" Reno didn't reply as he slowly turned around to look at Rufus' retreating figure.

Yazoo let out a whimper as he tried and failed to stand up. He hated being so weak, but there was nothing he could do about it for the moment. Reno finally noticed Yazoo's plight and leaned down to help the youth stand up. As Reno helped him back to his bed, Yazoo couldn't help but smirk again.

"So," he said quietly. "I noticed you didn't exactly mind that hug."

Reno snorted. "Who would? Cloud's the hottest thing to happen to this place since I came on the scene." Though you may be a close runner-up, Reno thought as he helped Yazoo climb into his bed. Reno's hand accidentally-on-purpose brushed Yazoo's rear. Yazoo stiffened, but maintained his composure. Mmmm, Reno thought, Cloud's definitely got some competition. Yazoo sighed as he lay back down in his bed. He looked up at Reno, wondering if the Turk had meant to do that, completely uncomfortable with the idea of trying to find out. As deadly as he was, Yazoo had next to no clue about matters such as love, lust and the like.

As Reno looked down on him, expression oddly soft, Yazoo ventured to ask a question he'd been wanting to ask for a long time. "Reno?"

Reno blinked, seeming to come out of his reverie. "Hm?" he asked, looking away once more.

"Do you know where Kadaj is?"

Reno stiffened. "No…" he said cautiously. "Do you?"

Yazoo shook his head mutely. "I want to see my brothers again," he explained. "I miss them."

Reno's eyes grew cold, and Yazoo knew he'd gone too far. "You miss them?" Reno asked angrily. "Well guess what? They're still out there, and one of your brothers is the reason I'll never see Rude again! Your damn brother doesn't even deserve to be MENTIONED in the same sentence as Rude!" By now, Reno's voice had risen to a shout.

Yazoo frowned at Reno's sudden outburst. "He was only doing what Mother told him to do. If your President Shinra told you to attack me, wouldn't you?"

Reno raised his hand, ready to hit Yazoo for daring to compare him to Rude's murderer. But just as he started to bring his hand down, Reno stopped. "If your mother told you to kill me right now, would you?" Reno asked, voice deadly calm.

Yazoo's eyes widened slightly. After a moment, he nodded quietly.

Reno scowled. "Well, remnant, I guess that's the difference between us. I wouldn't kill someone just because I was ordered to; not if they didn't deserve it." Reno, a little voice in the back of his head asked, have you forgotten all about Sector 7? How many innocent lives did you take that day? Reno shook his head. No, he decided, it wasn't the same. That had been different. That had been work.

Yazoo's breathing, which had quickened as Reno raised his hand, was now slowing. It looked as though Yazoo was safe for the mome-

Reno's fist connected with the wall directly above Yazoo's head. Yazoo let out a small yelp and shut his eyes tightly as plaster showered down into his face. Reno shook violently. He couldn't think, couldn't speak, couldn't stop picturing Rude's face. He fell to the floor. Reno was perfectly capable of standing up- he just didn't see the point. He lay on the floor, tears welling up in his eyes as he thought about Rude.

Yazoo sighed. He unsteadily got down to the floor and sat next to Reno. Yazoo didn't really know why, but he wanted to get Reno to stop crying. He awkwardly rubbed Reno's back. Reno looked up, eyes innocent and hurt for a moment. The moment he saw who was comforting him, though, Reno pushed Yazoo away roughly. Standing, Reno left the room, barely caring whether or not Yazoo was able to get back into his bed. Turning hurried footsteps towards his room, Reno absently noted the scent of food coming from downstairs. He hadn't eaten since before… since before, but he didn't have any appetite. Opening his door, Reno collapsed with a sigh onto his bed, and closed his eyes. Maybe this time, Rude's memory would let him sleep.

nyanyanyanyanya

Some of my friends didn't think it was that great, but I don't care- I think that, "Now, Reno had always been pretty darn sure which way he swung, and it sure as hell wasn't towards boobs," is the best sentence I've EVER written (though a few in the section that I was writing today, which will show up in a few chapters, do rival it).

A warning, though I doubt anyone who'd be bothered is still reading at this point: within the next few chapters (not sure which chapter at this point, though I doubt it'll be the next one) there'll be drinking and bishounen molestation- no lemon though! Yeah, sorry about that if you were holding out hope for a lemon. Anneka no write lemon.

Anyways, please review!