Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Aftertaste of Ashes ❯ Part 4 ( Chapter 4 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: LilyMoonsAlias 
Non Anime: Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Hentai / Fantasy / Romance / Shounen | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 02.21.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.3K | Visits: 347 | Status: Work In Progress
Non Anime: Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Hentai / Fantasy / Romance / Shounen | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 02.21.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.3K | Visits: 347 | Status: Work In Progress
"Man, that was disappointing," Reno grumbled as he went through the systems shut down routine. Beside him Rude wordlessly grunted agreement. "He broke too easy, you know? We didn't even get to break out the good stuff. Still, Tseng will be interested to know that both problems are connected." Reno laughed darkly. "Hell, he'll be pissed to know that the attacks at the reactor were nothing more than a distraction, and he took the bait."
"And you're not going to tell him in any tactful way, are you?" Rude asked with a long-suffering look.
Reno snorted. "After what he said to me this morning? Hell, no!"
"You still up for drinks after work?"
"You still buying?" Reno asked with a gluttonous gleam in his eye.
"Yeah, but I am *not* carrying you home tonight. You will not throw up on me or in my car. You will not start a brawl just for the hell of it," Rude said sternly.
"Any other rules, oh refined one with a tree up his ass?"
"Yeah. Wash off the blood and brush that rat's nest of hair," Rude smirked. "We've got appearances to keep up, you know."
Reno stuck out his tongue and made a rude noise in his partner's direction. He finished his post flight check and patted the instrument panel lovingly.
"Good flight, baby. We'll do this again real soon."
Rude rolled his eyes behind his shades. Reno and his helicopters. If the day ever came that Shinra installed voice address systems he was going to invest in ear plugs. He just knew that Reno would find a way to hack the program and have the machine respond in a sultry purr of a voice. They got out and Reno waved at the flight mechanic coming their way.
"Give'er a wash down, would ya, Joran? It was real dusty at the reactor site. Can't have the baby looking shabby."
Just as accustomed as Rude to Reno's habits, Joran agreed without reminding Reno that he always took excellent care of the helicopters.
Tseng was waiting for them in his office to hear their report. His impassive face showed neither surprise nor anger at Reno's dig about falling for the distraction.
"It was still costing time and valuable resources, Reno, distraction or not," Tseng countered. "Did you dispose of the body?"
"No body," Reno said with a feral grin. "Figured you'd want him to go back to his people as an example of sorts. Put them on notice. He wasn't too functional, but he'll probably make it. He's definitely a changed man."
"I'm sure," Tseng said blandly. Reno's satisfied grin indicated Dover was probably hideously messed up. At least the redhead had followed his orders. "Written reports by morning."
"Sure," Reno agreed easily, his earlier disgruntlement with his superior fading. "We done? 'Cause Rude and I have a date with some shot glasses."
"You're dismissed. Need I remind you..."
"Yeah, yeah. Appearances and all that shit. Rude's already said it," Reno laughed. "I might even wear underwear."
When the pair left his office Tseng allowed himself the luxury of an eye roll. Thankfully, nothing much kept Reno down for long. Still, he hoped the man's lover returned soon. He really did want his best team on the case and focused.
*******************************************************************
Cloud rolled into town, bone weary and chafed from the cold ride. The only stops he had made had been for fuel. He was tired, hungry and anxious to see Reno. The last thing Zack had said to him had circled his mind through the whole trip. It had to be a warning, couldn't be anything else. Thoughts of Hojo made him shudder. Cloud could feel phantom pain as clearly as the times when it was inflicted. The man had been an abomination.
When he arrived at the apartment building Cloud hesitated. Perhaps he should have gone back to the Seventh Heaven. As much as he wanted to see Reno he wasn't sure he still had the right to just ...hell with it. He wanted to be *home*, and Reno had tried hard to impress upon him that the apartment was always open to him. Steeling himself against recriminations about taking off again without a word, Cloud opened the door and was both disappointed and relieved to find it empty.
He walked to the bedroom and eased open the door. The bed was neatly made. As Reno never made the bed, always saying there was no point since it would just be messed up again later, it obviously hadn't been slept in. Cloud set his bag on the bed and went in the adjoining bathroom. The huge claw foot tub reminded him that he was covered in road dirt that was making his skin itch. Perhaps the hot water would relax him, too. Cloud was afraid, not really, but he still wasn't sure what he was going to say to his lover.
He knew his usual silence wasn't going to be an option this time. Nor could he just say hey, I'm back. Oh, and by the way, I had a talk with my dead lover and he let me know that I was being an asshole and you were worried about me. Right. That would go over real well, or even worse. Zack says you love me. Is he right?
Cloud yanked his hands through his spiked hair in frustration. He wasn't very good at this kind of thing. No. Be honest. He *sucked* at this kind of thing. Zack had joked once that it was a good thing he liked to talk so much since he had to do it for both himself and Cloud. One more time Cloud's heart ached with the loss. It just wasn't right that the world was deprived of Zack Fair.
Cloud watched the steaming water fill the tub and wondered how it was even possible for Reno to love him. He was the shunned boy, the disappointing SOLDIER candidate, the failed experiment. What was there to love? Reno could have his pick of dozens of pretty faces. Why would he care about a moody, emotionally and socially backward man who repeatedly left him behind when things turned even remotely serious?
A phantom smack to the back of his head jerked Cloud from his self denigrating ruminating.
"I hear ya," Cloud muttered and shed his clothes to ease into the water.
Instead of soaking like he originally intended, he scrubbed quickly and hurried into clean clothes. Looking in the mirror Cloud stared at his own reflection.
"You ready for this?" he asked the wary, blue eyes and sulky mouth.
***********************************************************************< br />
"There once was a girl from the slums,
As sharp and pretty as they come.
Every night she had dates
From men above plate
As long as they put gil in her palm."
"Reno, shut up," Rude begged wearily and pulled his partner from the car. The last hour had been filled with increasingly terrible limericks. "As soon as I get you inside you can yammer to your heart's content. Just, please, shut up for the two minutes it will take to get you there."
Reno snickered and threw his arm as far around the tall man's shoulders as he could get.
"You know you really looooove me, Rude."
"About as much as a boil on my ass," Rude muttered.
Reno cackled at Rude's grumbling and poked his key at the door a few times until Rude huffed in exasperation and took it from him. Reno stumbled into the opened door and stopped dead, causing Rude to run into him and nearly sending him to the floor. Cloud looked back at him with puzzled, sleepy eyes from the blanket nest on the couch. Reno recovered his composure and smirked to cover his relief.
"Well, look what the cuahl dragged home."
Cloud twisted a fold of the blanket. "Reno, I...I'm..." He glanced warily at Rude who was obviously glaring at him even through his shades.
Something in Cloud's posture and tone of voice penetrated Reno's hazy mind. He held up a hand to halt Cloud's fumbling words.
"Gimme ten minutes." Reno turned to Rude. "I'll be right back. Make sure he doesn't skip out while I'm gone."
Reno pulled a small vial of potion from an inner coat pocket and downed it on the way to the bathroom. A minute later the shower could be heard running along with gasping yelps about icy fucking water. Rude crossed his arms and pointedly stood before the door even though Cloud hadn't moved. Reno came back with one towel wrapped around his hips and using another to scrub at his hair. His eyes were bright and clear from the potion, all traces of obscene amounts of tequila gone. He waved at Rude in thanks.
"I'm good, partner. I'll see ya in the morning. Thanks."
Rude nodded and let himself out, leaving the two alone. Reno rubbed his hair one last time and let the towel drop onto the couch. The other man stood up revealing he was wearing nothing but a pair of Reno's sweatpants. Cloud parted his lips uncertainly to speak.
"I don't want to hear anything you have to say," Reno said harshly and watched Cloud's expression fall. "Not yet," he clarified. "Right now just get over here."
When Cloud was close enough Reno threaded his hands through blond hair and pulled his lover into a bruising kiss. Teeth cut into lips and Cloud flinched at the taste of blood. Reno sucked at the cut until the blond opened his lips in a soft moan then plunged his tongue in deep to dominate the kiss. When Cloud reached up to clutch at his shoulders Reno felt a sharp thrill of victory.
He released Cloud's mouth to scrape his teeth down a pale neck and swipe his tongue back over the faint marks. Cloud ground himself against Reno's thigh between his legs and bared his neck for more attention. He wanted this, needed it, needed to feel Reno claim his body with single minded intent. Neither spoke, communicating need only through touch and desperate sounds.
With a growl Reno spun Cloud around to bend him over the back of the couch. He kissed and nipped at the back of his neck while pushing the loose pants down to kick them out of the way. His own towel fell to the floor. A bottle of lube was fished from behind the couch cushions, opened and his hand slicked. Cloud cried out at the fast entry of two slippery fingers and arched his back, spreading his legs. Reno scissored his fingers apart to make his lover hiss in pained pleasure and snaked a hand around to squeeze Cloud's hardened cock. The resulting needy moan and the tightening around his fingers made Reno's heart race and his body shudder.
He pulled his fingers free to slick himself and thrust in hard and deep. Cloud cried out again and flung a hand back to grip Reno's hip to pull him closer. Reno moved his hips fast and rough, grasping Cloud's jaw to turn his head to the side so he could suck on the sensitive place on his neck. It was all heat and desperation, every thrust, every scratch of fingernails and scrape of teeth, every stroke of hard, sweat slick skin. Cloud moaned more and more loudly as he was pounded into until Reno struck hard one last time at his prostate and his whole body seized up with pleasure. He spilled himself over Reno's hand and trembled, only his lover's body pinning him over the back of the couch keeping him from collapsing.
Reno came hard, biting Cloud's shoulder savagely, the taste of musky sweat, blood and Cloud on his tongue. He fell over Cloud's back with his breath rasping in his lover's ear. Reno eased himself out with a wince thanks to the painful spasm in his back and slid to the floor. Cloud fell into a boneless heap beside.him. Reno lay on his back, threw an arm over his eyes and tangled his other hand in damp blond hair.
"Why do I let you fuck me up so much, huh?" Reno asked and tugged on the hair.
"I could ask you the same," Cloud replied in a gravelly voice and didn't protest either the pull of his hair or the subsequent gentle caress of his cheek. He pressed his forehead against Reno's shoulder and wound an arm tightly around his chest.
If Reno was surprised by the conscious gesture he didn't show it. He just continued stroking his fingers along Cloud's face. A single thought interrupted his fuzzy contentment and that was the floor was really very uncomfortable.
"And you're not going to tell him in any tactful way, are you?" Rude asked with a long-suffering look.
Reno snorted. "After what he said to me this morning? Hell, no!"
"You still up for drinks after work?"
"You still buying?" Reno asked with a gluttonous gleam in his eye.
"Yeah, but I am *not* carrying you home tonight. You will not throw up on me or in my car. You will not start a brawl just for the hell of it," Rude said sternly.
"Any other rules, oh refined one with a tree up his ass?"
"Yeah. Wash off the blood and brush that rat's nest of hair," Rude smirked. "We've got appearances to keep up, you know."
Reno stuck out his tongue and made a rude noise in his partner's direction. He finished his post flight check and patted the instrument panel lovingly.
"Good flight, baby. We'll do this again real soon."
Rude rolled his eyes behind his shades. Reno and his helicopters. If the day ever came that Shinra installed voice address systems he was going to invest in ear plugs. He just knew that Reno would find a way to hack the program and have the machine respond in a sultry purr of a voice. They got out and Reno waved at the flight mechanic coming their way.
"Give'er a wash down, would ya, Joran? It was real dusty at the reactor site. Can't have the baby looking shabby."
Just as accustomed as Rude to Reno's habits, Joran agreed without reminding Reno that he always took excellent care of the helicopters.
Tseng was waiting for them in his office to hear their report. His impassive face showed neither surprise nor anger at Reno's dig about falling for the distraction.
"It was still costing time and valuable resources, Reno, distraction or not," Tseng countered. "Did you dispose of the body?"
"No body," Reno said with a feral grin. "Figured you'd want him to go back to his people as an example of sorts. Put them on notice. He wasn't too functional, but he'll probably make it. He's definitely a changed man."
"I'm sure," Tseng said blandly. Reno's satisfied grin indicated Dover was probably hideously messed up. At least the redhead had followed his orders. "Written reports by morning."
"Sure," Reno agreed easily, his earlier disgruntlement with his superior fading. "We done? 'Cause Rude and I have a date with some shot glasses."
"You're dismissed. Need I remind you..."
"Yeah, yeah. Appearances and all that shit. Rude's already said it," Reno laughed. "I might even wear underwear."
When the pair left his office Tseng allowed himself the luxury of an eye roll. Thankfully, nothing much kept Reno down for long. Still, he hoped the man's lover returned soon. He really did want his best team on the case and focused.
*******************************************************************
Cloud rolled into town, bone weary and chafed from the cold ride. The only stops he had made had been for fuel. He was tired, hungry and anxious to see Reno. The last thing Zack had said to him had circled his mind through the whole trip. It had to be a warning, couldn't be anything else. Thoughts of Hojo made him shudder. Cloud could feel phantom pain as clearly as the times when it was inflicted. The man had been an abomination.
When he arrived at the apartment building Cloud hesitated. Perhaps he should have gone back to the Seventh Heaven. As much as he wanted to see Reno he wasn't sure he still had the right to just ...hell with it. He wanted to be *home*, and Reno had tried hard to impress upon him that the apartment was always open to him. Steeling himself against recriminations about taking off again without a word, Cloud opened the door and was both disappointed and relieved to find it empty.
He walked to the bedroom and eased open the door. The bed was neatly made. As Reno never made the bed, always saying there was no point since it would just be messed up again later, it obviously hadn't been slept in. Cloud set his bag on the bed and went in the adjoining bathroom. The huge claw foot tub reminded him that he was covered in road dirt that was making his skin itch. Perhaps the hot water would relax him, too. Cloud was afraid, not really, but he still wasn't sure what he was going to say to his lover.
He knew his usual silence wasn't going to be an option this time. Nor could he just say hey, I'm back. Oh, and by the way, I had a talk with my dead lover and he let me know that I was being an asshole and you were worried about me. Right. That would go over real well, or even worse. Zack says you love me. Is he right?
Cloud yanked his hands through his spiked hair in frustration. He wasn't very good at this kind of thing. No. Be honest. He *sucked* at this kind of thing. Zack had joked once that it was a good thing he liked to talk so much since he had to do it for both himself and Cloud. One more time Cloud's heart ached with the loss. It just wasn't right that the world was deprived of Zack Fair.
Cloud watched the steaming water fill the tub and wondered how it was even possible for Reno to love him. He was the shunned boy, the disappointing SOLDIER candidate, the failed experiment. What was there to love? Reno could have his pick of dozens of pretty faces. Why would he care about a moody, emotionally and socially backward man who repeatedly left him behind when things turned even remotely serious?
A phantom smack to the back of his head jerked Cloud from his self denigrating ruminating.
"I hear ya," Cloud muttered and shed his clothes to ease into the water.
Instead of soaking like he originally intended, he scrubbed quickly and hurried into clean clothes. Looking in the mirror Cloud stared at his own reflection.
"You ready for this?" he asked the wary, blue eyes and sulky mouth.
***********************************************************************< br />
"There once was a girl from the slums,
As sharp and pretty as they come.
Every night she had dates
From men above plate
As long as they put gil in her palm."
"Reno, shut up," Rude begged wearily and pulled his partner from the car. The last hour had been filled with increasingly terrible limericks. "As soon as I get you inside you can yammer to your heart's content. Just, please, shut up for the two minutes it will take to get you there."
Reno snickered and threw his arm as far around the tall man's shoulders as he could get.
"You know you really looooove me, Rude."
"About as much as a boil on my ass," Rude muttered.
Reno cackled at Rude's grumbling and poked his key at the door a few times until Rude huffed in exasperation and took it from him. Reno stumbled into the opened door and stopped dead, causing Rude to run into him and nearly sending him to the floor. Cloud looked back at him with puzzled, sleepy eyes from the blanket nest on the couch. Reno recovered his composure and smirked to cover his relief.
"Well, look what the cuahl dragged home."
Cloud twisted a fold of the blanket. "Reno, I...I'm..." He glanced warily at Rude who was obviously glaring at him even through his shades.
Something in Cloud's posture and tone of voice penetrated Reno's hazy mind. He held up a hand to halt Cloud's fumbling words.
"Gimme ten minutes." Reno turned to Rude. "I'll be right back. Make sure he doesn't skip out while I'm gone."
Reno pulled a small vial of potion from an inner coat pocket and downed it on the way to the bathroom. A minute later the shower could be heard running along with gasping yelps about icy fucking water. Rude crossed his arms and pointedly stood before the door even though Cloud hadn't moved. Reno came back with one towel wrapped around his hips and using another to scrub at his hair. His eyes were bright and clear from the potion, all traces of obscene amounts of tequila gone. He waved at Rude in thanks.
"I'm good, partner. I'll see ya in the morning. Thanks."
Rude nodded and let himself out, leaving the two alone. Reno rubbed his hair one last time and let the towel drop onto the couch. The other man stood up revealing he was wearing nothing but a pair of Reno's sweatpants. Cloud parted his lips uncertainly to speak.
"I don't want to hear anything you have to say," Reno said harshly and watched Cloud's expression fall. "Not yet," he clarified. "Right now just get over here."
When Cloud was close enough Reno threaded his hands through blond hair and pulled his lover into a bruising kiss. Teeth cut into lips and Cloud flinched at the taste of blood. Reno sucked at the cut until the blond opened his lips in a soft moan then plunged his tongue in deep to dominate the kiss. When Cloud reached up to clutch at his shoulders Reno felt a sharp thrill of victory.
He released Cloud's mouth to scrape his teeth down a pale neck and swipe his tongue back over the faint marks. Cloud ground himself against Reno's thigh between his legs and bared his neck for more attention. He wanted this, needed it, needed to feel Reno claim his body with single minded intent. Neither spoke, communicating need only through touch and desperate sounds.
With a growl Reno spun Cloud around to bend him over the back of the couch. He kissed and nipped at the back of his neck while pushing the loose pants down to kick them out of the way. His own towel fell to the floor. A bottle of lube was fished from behind the couch cushions, opened and his hand slicked. Cloud cried out at the fast entry of two slippery fingers and arched his back, spreading his legs. Reno scissored his fingers apart to make his lover hiss in pained pleasure and snaked a hand around to squeeze Cloud's hardened cock. The resulting needy moan and the tightening around his fingers made Reno's heart race and his body shudder.
He pulled his fingers free to slick himself and thrust in hard and deep. Cloud cried out again and flung a hand back to grip Reno's hip to pull him closer. Reno moved his hips fast and rough, grasping Cloud's jaw to turn his head to the side so he could suck on the sensitive place on his neck. It was all heat and desperation, every thrust, every scratch of fingernails and scrape of teeth, every stroke of hard, sweat slick skin. Cloud moaned more and more loudly as he was pounded into until Reno struck hard one last time at his prostate and his whole body seized up with pleasure. He spilled himself over Reno's hand and trembled, only his lover's body pinning him over the back of the couch keeping him from collapsing.
Reno came hard, biting Cloud's shoulder savagely, the taste of musky sweat, blood and Cloud on his tongue. He fell over Cloud's back with his breath rasping in his lover's ear. Reno eased himself out with a wince thanks to the painful spasm in his back and slid to the floor. Cloud fell into a boneless heap beside.him. Reno lay on his back, threw an arm over his eyes and tangled his other hand in damp blond hair.
"Why do I let you fuck me up so much, huh?" Reno asked and tugged on the hair.
"I could ask you the same," Cloud replied in a gravelly voice and didn't protest either the pull of his hair or the subsequent gentle caress of his cheek. He pressed his forehead against Reno's shoulder and wound an arm tightly around his chest.
If Reno was surprised by the conscious gesture he didn't show it. He just continued stroking his fingers along Cloud's face. A single thought interrupted his fuzzy contentment and that was the floor was really very uncomfortable.