Disclaimer: Same old song and dance, Refer to Chapter 1 for it.
AN: *bows low* I'm SO SO SORRY for not posting sooner. But if you've been keeping tabs on my Profile or follow me on DeviantART then you know I've been incapable of doing this due to lack of access to MY Laptop. Mainly due to lack of a power chord for it, but yet once again, my little Bro has Computer built (he had an issue w/his Motherboard so I wasn't able to get on it as much since he had to use his Laptop for access and whatever have yous). So, when I get the chance, I have it again. And I've gotten back on the Inspiration Wagon this morning to kind of tie off this Chapter...^^; Still dragging this dead horse out to try and finish it out...There is maybe a couple or few chapters left. Not sure yet. Chapter 24 will tie around to our little Cloud going off to the College to face the throes of the Student Body regarding the News report. But there will be a slight shine of hope for it all
Raechel is going to pull through for our fave duo to work on getting them a first gig regarding the book which should make our duo happy...but sadly...I'm going to rip the happy rug out from under them at the bottom end of the next chapter that'll lead into the last chapter: Chapter 25. But there will be an Epilogue to give you guys a HAPPY ENDING and to shield myself against the possible flames I'm going to get from Chapter 25.
Sidenote: This chapter is inspired by a Review by...I forget your Screenname at the moment ^^; and her Review asking for some kind of clarification of the whole; Genesis, Sephiroth and Angeal knowing one another song and dance from the previous Chapter. On that note ^^; Yeah...I should've explained that better in the last chapter, but my Inspiration Fairy likes to fly South a lot and leave me high and dry. ANYWAYS! Here is a new chapter to subdue the hungry masses. ...And kind of a way to wean my way back into working on the 2nd chapter of the Sequel to "The Tiger and the Chocobo" w/MistressxofxPuppets1 over on DeviantART, who has an account on here, but I forget it at the moment ^^;
2nd Sidenote: IF you guys send Reviews to me on this or any other works of mine between Oct. 19th-30th, PLEASE bear w/me as of the 31st, or at least Nov. 1st or sometime in Nov. or whenever to get back to you on 'em because 19th I'm heading out of the U.S. to Bolivia for a Missionary Trip with my Church. Please bear with me in regards to posting any new chapters or tales between now and then or afterwards...Going to have MAJOR jet lag coming back on the 30th and probably, may or may not, jump on, on Halloween. Don't know yet. Anyways. Enough of my rambling ^^; READ. ENJOY. REVIEW.
Guide: Italics at the start of this regarding Sephiroth; Flashback's to explain the knowing of one another between Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal for the clarification in regards to the Review asking about it.
It had been a long day for all; especially for Cloud and Sephiroth, Cloud had fallen asleep in Sephiroth's lap. Thankfully, the stress, tension, and excitement from the day had worn him out; making it so that his eyes closed out from having to gaze upon the repetitive news footage. It was all the same, Sephiroth punching out Nicholas, the men jumping out like hyenas on a fresh kill while a few attempted to drag away a living prey. He didn't know what had come over him at that time; he had become a feral animal protective of what was his. Some news stations had gotten their paws on the footage of Sephiroth carrying a frightened Cloud off in the sheet towards his car with Raechel being helped off into an Ambulance. All the while, the police had been in full form behind the Ambulance to arrest her upon review of her injuries and once she was stable once again. Everything that had occurred had reminded him all too well of the imagery he had happened upon that night all those years ago in his youth when he had received the tearful call from Angeal.
He never wanted to have to go through that nightmare ever again.
But once Cloud had been settled off to bed, Sephiroth had set back to working on the computer. It would've been simple enough to get to work on the novel again, but everything was still a buzz in his brain. Much of the news footage that had been plastered across the news and televisions a like painted a different image in Sephiroth's mind. Images of the men that had gotten their paws on Cloud; it became painted in his mind the image of the fairy tale versions of wolves. Blood thirsty, Grandma and little girl eating monsters, but these wolves were wolves looking to take advantage of the innocent little bunny known as Cloud. It turned his stomach more and more, each time he saw the footage of the men dragging Cloud off into the back of the van and brought up old images. Images he had only once before when he was younger had seen happening in a lone wolf, a lone wolf that now was sitting back in prison.
The lone wolf had begun to show signs of taking advantage of the innocents of the mediocre Junior High the duo were attending. The changes had been showing long before the man had hit High School and the supposed pressures to conform with popularity. Even then, Angeal had been pegged as Genesis' first and newest target from the first day the windbag of a Principal they had introduced a shy Angeal. Angeal at that time came from a family of high power; it should've been that he would've been attending a Private School, but he wanted to be a normal kid. Which was probably where he went down the wrong path towards a lone wolf's den of destruction into spinning out of control where he was now. With a student much like Angeal, there was for sure chances for the school to get proper funding, or so that was the hope by the Principal trying to lock his lips to the posterior's of Angeal's parents.
All the while, in the crowd, a lone wolf was playing his devious little mind game as his bored gaze turned upon the students sitting in the assembly, "Bi, straight, straight, on the fence, gay, totally gay," it was a game he had come up with to amuse himself during these drab assemblies, "Do you think that the new meat could be…?"
"Don't even ask, Genesis; if you make one move on him," green eyes leered upon Genesis, slowly moving his attention back to a very bored Angeal on the stage, "I'll make sure never mount another male, ever."
"Spoiled sport."
Sephiroth shook his head with a soft chuckle in his throat as he ran his hand over the spine of the yearbook from that year as it sat upon a bookshelf. That year had been a turbulent one; it wasn't till one stay over at Genesis' that Angeal had come out to the trio they had back then that he was possibly Bi. Genesis had been inwardly excited at the chance of yet getting to tap the new meat, so Angeal was dubbed, but Sephiroth had kept his eyes on Genesis. Leering at him with the same look that he would still take the man down if he made a move on Angeal; Genesis had simply taken it in strides then. Mocking Sephiroth with sing song words that the man was just jealous that he was paying more attention to Angeal then he was to Sephiroth. He already knew Sephiroth was Bi and on the occasion, they had experimented with one another, but it never went past simple kisses. Sephiroth had stated he didn't want them to become too close in such a way that it would ruin their friendship. It wouldn't be till later that summer that Angeal finally came out that he was over the idea of being Bi when he had found himself blushing at a young man he had run into in GYM one day.
Genesis was thrilled.
Sephiroth had sent up a silent prayer for someone to watch over Angeal that Genesis wouldn't make a move on the innocent Angeal; he didn't deserve Genesis, Genesis would only harm him, "I never should've left Genesis' that night…I should've stayed for you…"
As they, the rest is history.
A soft groan came from behind Sephiroth as he turned slowly on heels to find a sleepy eyed, ruffled spiked blond haired young man staring at him with a tired look in his eyes, "Why are you still up? Come to bed already…You have to drive me home tomorrow morning so I can catch Zack up and go face the horde of curious peasants looking to eat up details about my five minutes of fame…"
Sephiroth softly chuckled as he walked up to Cloud, embracing him about the shoulders against his chest, "I'm coming to bed, babe…just reminiscing over a few things and…" his lips softly kissed Cloud on top of the head, "thinking about what happened today. Especially what you and Raechel were plotting involving you and me…"
"…Sorry…"Cloud blushed as he wrapped his arms tightly around Sephiroth's chest; he hadn't meant for proposing of exchange of services to end up with an unusual wedding proposal.
"About what? You don't want Raechel as our Matron of Honor?"
Cloud knew he was caught in what he had agreed to that afternoon, "Jig is up sweetie, and even if you haven't known him that long, I think he's the man for you sweetie…did you see how he was willing to give up his dignity and pride for you…"
"…About everything today…I've probably ruined your career and…" silence was brought to an abrupt halt as Sephiroth softly kissed Cloud's lips as Sephiroth brought Cloud down to his level; he was on bended knee.
Both subconscious' were in utter brain shutdown at what they saw, "Is that what you want from me Cloud? My eternal to love you eternally and forever, and you only?"
"I-I…"Cloud had become a stuttering fool as he watched Sephiroth seemed to produce out of thin air a makeshift ring for him as he placed it on the finger responsible for bearing it, "Sephiroth?"
"Is he?" Cloud's subconscious began to sputter as Sephiroth's seemed to watch on with happiness for the man.
A soft nod came from the little man, "I think he is…"
"Cloud Strife, if you'll have me, faults and everything else that makes me a fall apart and failure of a human, when all of this over, books are out in the stores, sales are made and we've toured the book silly…will you marry me?"
Dumbstruck as he was, Cloud couldn't stop himself from saying and doing what he did next, "Y-Yes!" he threw his arms around the man's neck as he kissed the man silly till both were laughing fools on the floor.
"I'm proud of you Seph sweetie…a little bit of heaven that you truly deserve after the Hell you've been through in the past…"
Tears of utter joy began to run down Cloud's face as it all set in; he was engaged to a man that he had merely had met at least a week or more ago, now, he was engaged to him. If Zack could see him now, he would've been the first to congratulate him, while Angeal would be the parental like figure to shake his head at it. Only once Zack and Cloud would be out of the room would he ever truly show his gratitude for Sephiroth for sealing it with Cloud. Sephiroth dreamed in that moment that was how it would go down when he broke the news to his long time friend, but right now; he needed to get his happy little blond back to bed. Even engaged College students needed their sleep and needed an education to help support their fiancée.
Fiancé…
A word that he had never put past himself to think to ever find himself with, but now; he could see himself as one.
"Lights out!" the guard called out over the darkening halls of prison cells as the television was closed off, "Get to sleep. Exercise in the Exercise Yard early tomorrow morning, ladies."
A soft sneer came from the auburn haired man lying on the cot above his bunkmate; the exercise yard was overrated as were rules as he turned on a small one he had managed to sneak into his cell. Late night news was still running about the incident at the local Café of a local author and friends being attacked by the paparazzi. The small screen of the miniature television didn't help the man's viewing of the news, but when he spotted that the author that was attacked was Sephiroth. A small gasp left his lips; how dare someone touch a man as fine as Sephiroth? But the one bit of news that was getting the most attention was the small form blond being rescued by the man. The news had spun it that the men that had attempted the capture were once before prosecuted sex offenders. Unfortunately, before the police were able to make arrests for Nicholas' and group attack Sephiroth, Raechel, and Cloud, the men had taken off. Some photos had been posted up on the news report alongside a previously recorded telephone conference with Sephiroth. He had come out on the conversation that the young man he had covered for being a "friend" was his boyfriend; he had also sworn harm to anyone who dared touch him or harm him. Genesis knew he had lost contact with Sephiroth after the long years of High School after their harsh fall out, and the disastrous fall out after his near on attack on Angeal those years ago. But he had tried before his attack on Angeal to talk to Sephiroth, only receiving the man's answering machine; now, he had reason to get in touch with the man.
Or at least find someone to go and kick the asses of the men who would think to harm his oldest and dearest friend and the cute little man in his old friend's life, "…Glad to see things have worked out for you, Sephiroth, as for me, I'm not so lucky…Heh, maybe I'll find my own happiness in here."
"Rhasphados!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, lights out…turning it out now, Boss man."
Thankfully for a now sleeping Cloud's sake, Zack had kept Angeal occupied and company long after he and Sephiroth had left the Hospital. It was also another blessing in disguise that Zack wasn't a fan of the news so he didn't have to hear from the teen about hearing on the news about the near miss attack on him and Sephiroth. But it wasn't a blessing to Angeal that he had a heavy, sleeping Puppy latched onto his side. His Nurse had now and again come in to check on Angeal and to change out the collection bag; she hadn't the heart to wake Zack up and tell him that almost an hour and a half, to two hours ago that Visiting Hours had ended. She had simply placed a blanket upon his shoulders and had told the other Nurses to leave Angeal's room to her; Angeal had tried, without prevailing to win. To ask Zack to go home, or at least for someone to give the boy a lift back to the apartment, but she had worn him down to let him stay. She would be by in the morning to wake up Zack to shoo if him off to the apartment a little bit before he had to run to class.
"…You're lucky to have someone as committed as him, Mr. Hewley," her fingers gently played with Zack's long bangs, "Sometimes we have families that come to visit their fallen down and can't get up grandmothers then they just leave, no one bothers to volunteer to stay the night to keep watch."
Angeal tiredly sighed as he placed a gentle hand, carefully on Zack's sleeping head, only to have the boy slightly nuzzle his head into it, "He saved me from myself…when we met at a little club a few years ago; I was looking to drown myself in alcohol. Simply, drink myself silly till I got alcohol poisoning. But he…"
"…He just walked up to me and started talking to me, we shared a few drinks, but it wasn't till a few thugs walked up and started to talk to Zack that it got out of hand…"
That it had.
What simply had turned from simple chatter of Zack being as polite as possible that he wasn't interested in getting fisted by a gorilla that probably had equipment the size of a midget holding an apple in his hand. Turned into the man grabbing a hold of Zack by the throat while his buddies came out of nowhere and began to grab at the boy's clothes. Angeal had been too far hung over to register was going on till he managed, through of haze brought on by the alcohol saw the man attempting to make a grab for a place between Zack's thighs. Zack had been trying his hardest to fight the men off by the "gorilla" that he had dubbed the man had all but grabbed Zack's head in his huge hands and slammed his head, back of it first, down onto the counter of the bar. It knocked Zack out cold as he later found his half undressed body falling behind the bar into a heap as Angeal, in his still hazy and blurry drunk world fought the men off. Angeal was taken off to the Emergency Room that night, handcuffed, for a few stitches while Zack lay in a hospital bed not too far from the sutures room. From that night on; neither man could avoid one another.
Zack had suggested that they go on a proper date to make everything between them official, but like most well thought out plans; they tend to fall apart. They had ended up going to Angeal's apartment where both men had lost themselves in one another in one simple night. Not to mention Cloud was furious, as were Zack's professors, that Zack had missed an entire day's worth of classes the morning after he had woken up in Angeal's bed.
"…I haven't looked back since that night…when he came in here, silent, after I called him after my accident; I thought he was going to explode and tell me we were through, but…"Angeal's fingers softly carded through Zack's locks, "The kid stuck around. Guess some people can accept others broken like them, faults and all."
The Nurse softly chuckled as she turned off the overhead light over Angeal's bed, "Well, good night Mr. Hewley…I'll be by in the morning to send the young man home…then I'll be by to check in on you and see if you're up for some Physical Therapy."
"Sounds like a plan…"
"Night Mr. Hewley…"
Monday morning came a day all too soon for varying parties; Sephiroth hadn't been looking forward to it because it would mean he would be left to worry about the young man in his bed all day. All his worries and fears were coming to the surface, and they had during the night; Cloud may have not known it, but if Sephiroth was able to have his way. He would've found reason for Cloud to avoid classes overall today to save him from the question hounds that would be after him regarding the news. The populace may be more kin to watching music videos and videos on the Internet, but there was a populace who watched the news. If Cloud wasn't already a wildfire of gossip on the College Grounds after his smooch fest with Reno, then the make out with Zack to piss off his ex. Not to mention the cat fight that had ensued when his ex had attempted to attack him, he was going to be the center of it now since his face had been all but plastered across the evening news. As the man sat in bed, fingers scribbling down a rough scripting of the next part of the tale that was slowly becoming their tale; small bits and pieces of the tale hidden away on his computer's hard drive were being altered. Now and again, his gaze would turn to a softly slumbering Cloud; a soft smile creased his own features. When the two men had taken to going to bed the night before; Cloud had scrambled to find something before coming to bed. Sephiroth had thought the kid had lost his mind, but when he came up with two candy wrappers that had been formed into rings; he placed one on his own hand then another on Sephiroth's. It was Cloud's own cheesy way of letting others know they were together, and had promised themselves to one another and they would work till Sephiroth could buy an official engagement ring.
"Awake or asleep, he's a little angel, isn't he, sweetie?" the man's subconscious spoke up as it dreamily watched Cloud's subconscious sleeping away much like its Host, "Real angel he is, sweetie…your folks would be proud to know you found someone that makes you happy. They would've wanted you to be happy and…I think you're about to have a noisy guest in 3…2…1…"
Crash!
Bang!
"Oh! I'm sorry, Mr. Sephiroth! I did it again…and here it is only the first few hours of the morning and I've already broken a dish, I promise to pay for it like the others before, sir!" the house keeper he had shooed out earlier in the weekend was back to start her morning duties.
Sephiroth sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, placing the writing notepad as he donned on a bath robe as he padded out to the Living Room to face the ditzy House Maid. He really didn't want to have to deal with her at this hour. Especially her at this hour and with Cloud still in the apartment; hopefully against all hope she hadn't seen the news. There was denying the inevitable.
He softly padded out into the Living Room as he placed a cautious hand on her shoulder, "Just leave it for now; I didn't really care for that silly thing anyway…"
"T-Thank you sir; I hope I wasn't interrupting your sleep…I just let myself in and…I was worried about you when I saw the News last night."
Damn.
"Heh, yeah…just one of the many obstacles that comes with being popular," Sephiroth half heartedly chuckled which seemed to turn the House Maid's head, "What?"
Her softly smile said it all, "In the years that I've known you Mr. Sephiroth; I've never known you to crack a smile or even laugh at anything…it's good to see this side of you…" she softly chuckled herself as she picked up Cloud's jacket off the back of the sofa; Sephiroth had all but forgotten about that, "And I guess your house guest is the reason for that change."
"Who was it, Sephiroth?" Cloud groaned as he padded out to the Living Room, stopping just short of the entry way that lead from the Master Bedroom to the Living Room; rubbing at his eyes as he blurry eyed looked up at the House Maid, "Um, Hello?"
This is going to be a long day…
Morning was stretching its hand over the other stages of lives that would be intermixing this morning; Reno had slept over at Rude's over the weekend. Being alone was beneath him and it only brought up past heartache as a child. His Mother was not one of those types of Mom's that stuck around through the night; as soon as she was assured that Reno's was asleep, she would slip out to enjoy the night life. He had grown up knowing the feeling of abandonment, but he never let it get to him. Sure, other kids his age back then had loving parents that were there to still your nightmares, change your bed sheets while comforting you. Telling you that it every kid wet their bed at your age while your soiled sheets ran in the washer and you drank hot chocolate with Mommy and Daddy. They were there to teach you about the things that mattered in life, like, the birds and the bees, give you "The Talk", get all mushy over the fact you've got a date for Prom.
Reno never had that.
All he ever had was the silence of a silent home; that should've been insulated with love, protection, wanted, and most importantly, a Mother's love. The only thing it had was a Mother who strolled in after the sun had risen into the sky and a note posted to the front door, as high as his little legs would allow. Telling "Mommy" he had gone off to big boy school; he would be home at lunch time to make sure she hadn't drowned in her own vomit. When he was merely twelve years old; that was when the abandonment issues started to rear their ugly head; first girl he had felt a connection with had decided they were over within an instant, just shortly before junior high graduation. Many would've thought that such a young boy would get over the crushing blow; what others didn't know was, it had driven him out of his mind. To the point, it had driven him into the Hospital, a Medical Hospital. His Mother had no instincts on how to handle a caged animal like Reno after he had come home, nearly to the point of passing out from hyperventilating. She thought she was doing the right thing by putting him out of his misery; she slammed his head against a wall to the point that he missed the first few weeks of High School.
After that, she disappeared.
Foster Care system came in to take care of him and from there, as is always the case; the rest is history. Tifa had been the first girl to take an interest in him when he entered College; she had gone on and on about her ex. Stating and pointing out all of her ex's faults and what she was looking for in a man and telling him that if he fell out of any of those standings she had picked out for what she wanted.
She would drop him where he stood.
At first, he didn't want to be left standing alone like a dog left off on the side of the road for someone else to pick up the pathetic little whelp. Or for some drunk driver to come by and hit the pathetic thing, put it out of its misery. But as time went on, and found that he couldn't stand her standards; he wanted out. Even if it meant opening up old scars. First things were first. Finding an escape plan, making it out, and having the safety net at the ready to catch him when he would have his ass handed to him for breaking it off with the only girl in his life since the one time crush in Junior High. The Gods couldn't have been already on the starting block when they dropped Rude into the Science Lab that one fateful day almost four months ago. Sure he had questioned what it would be like to go with a guy, but he never thought it all the way out. He had known a number of guys in High School who swung that way and they faced the same drama as the straight guys, but the stories they had filled his curious ears with about what it felt like to be with a guy. Some of the stories had scared him half out of his mind to the point that he had worn an athletic cup on his ass for a good part of a semester when one of the guys had, jokingly, told him of a false Season. One of the smartasses had told him there was a time of year that some of their kind went out to hunt for scared stiff little heterosexual guys to convert to their side.
The old idea of, 'One of us'.
Reno had all but avoided school for a good part of the so called Season, but the guys came out to him that it was only a joke. They could've said something before he had ended up having to be wheeled off to the Emergency Room to get the cup dislodged from between his butt cheeks.
Most.
Embarrassing.
Day.
Of.
His.
Life.
Once High School had been said and done, College was the next step and all he could think of was getting through it without losing dual virginities; he wouldn't mind the typical one, but he liked his ass in tack. That was changed drastically within just a short number of weeks once he had started College; he had bumped into Tifa and what should've been a war of words between two pissed off College kids turned into a heat of passion that Reno had hardly remembered happening. All that vibrated off in his head was the sounds of Tifa screaming under him, and then his tears he had cried when she had switched their roles. It hadn't been until after he had been deflowered as it would be that he had explained why he had been crying. That would be the one and only time Tifa would act like a worried friend, more or less, girlfriend. After that, she was the cruel bitch she had shown that had all but ripped out the throat of her ex when she saw him smooching on her man in the Cafeteria that fateful day. Things should've been fine once he was sure he wasn't going to lose Tifa, but there were starting to be signs that she wasn't as loyal to him as she seemed. Most guys had told him to keep her on a short leash, mind what she does, but he didn't want to come off as a possessive boyfriend.
He was going to have if he wanted to keep the only person who had managed to stay with him this long. But the strongest bonds grow weak; Reno had been the one to grow weak. Rude had transferred into his class only after the first weeks of the class starting and had been partnered with Reno. The guy hardly spoke, but Reno learned to adapt; it hadn't been till Rude had, in his own way, asked Reno if he'd like to go out for a drink that it had all changed. Rude spilled it out to Reno that Tifa was sleeping with a string of other guys and had the proof; Reno hadn't wanted to believe it, but it was true. No one know what it was that had brought Reno to his knees to fall into Rude's life, some claimed it was the booze, his heartache that he was losing his only solid and firm relationship. Rude had only one answer for it all; Reno was a broken soul that needed a broken soul to confide in. Rude had been much like Reno as a young child, and as it is, broken soul plus broken soul always equal, a whole.
On and off they had seen one another to hide the fact from Tifa that had Reno had changed sides.
The guys in High School would've been proud of him.
And…he had to give them credit.
It was as good as they told him.
As he rolled over to snuggle up on Rude; he found that he was hugging empty space as the sound of the T.V. turned on in the Living Room guided him, "What are you doing up so early, babe?" Reno placed a soft chaste kiss to Rude's cheek as he turned to see what had the man's attention.
"News has still been pouring in about yesterday's scuffle between renowned Author, Sephiroth Maximus and the labeled "Sleaze Ball Weasel of Editorials" Nicholas; word has spread to our News Station that Mr. Maximus posted a letter to his Website to his fans. The letter reads as this:.."
Dearest Fans and Readers,
At this time, you may have been hearing the news reports as well as speculated rumors that I, Sephiroth Maximus, was in a scuffle with the local Paparazzi in regards to my young friend at my side known as Cloud Strife. At this time, I would like to dispel any rumors that may begin to sift about the Internet regarding my sexual orientation. If such rumors that I am homosexual and that the young man beside me in the footage is my lover. Then I have to say this; Yes. All rumors are true. I can no longer hide behind the fact of living a lie. As for the young man, he is to be helping me in the coming weeks, possibly months, to help with the Publishing of a new series of tales I will be sending out to the bookshelves as soon as possible. They will be of a different kind of genre, but I hope that you will continue to follow my work. As well as enjoy it. Cloud and I thank you in advance for your support through our time of strife as we try and get over the hounds that will be at our doors regarding this issue.
Thank You For Your Dedication,
Sephiroth Maximus
"We also received word that Mr. Maximus called up our Station and gave us a Phone Conference; in this conversation, Mr. Maximus announced that he and his young lover are safe and unscathed. Future plans for their relationship are unknown at this time, but there is a hint that Mr. Maximus gave us that he and his young love will be together for a long time."
The news report continued to ramble on and on, talking about that support as well as letters congratulating Sephiroth on his coming out as well as asking if he and Cloud would be willing to talk about their ordeal on a Talk Show. Reno hadn't moved or spoken since gluing his eyes to the Television set as he quietly walked over to his jacket draped over the back of one of Rude's Kitchen chairs. Rude knew where this was going; Reno was going to lose his mind and he was going to scream at someone.
It was too early for that.
"Reno, put the phone away," Rude called out gently as he sipped the rest of his coffee before placing it down.
But Reno wasn't listening, "I'm getting to the bottom of what the hell is going on and…WHY ISN'T THIS WORKING!?!"
Rude had seen it happen before; Reno wouldn't show he was panicked over someone else's self being, he just showed it by scrambling for something to numb it all or an escape from it all. Getting frustrated at an already turned on cell phone wasn't going to help his situation.
"Babe, put the phone down before you break it…I don't have the money to buy you a new one…"Rude gathered the man into his arms as he felt Reno's thin limbs wrap around his neck; his face burying into the man's chest, "He's fine, I'm sure he is…And I'm sure Zack already knows."
"What if Zack doesn't know? For all he knows Cloud could be lying dead in a ditch somewhere and that Sephiroth guy left Cloud to drag himself out or he's hurt as well and can't reach him…"