Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 32

“Alliance”

Chapter 32

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(Warning: Possible spoilers for all FF7 game/movie titles)

*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

~***********************************************~

 

“Come on, boss. It won't feel right if you're not there. I've found the perfect place and ya don't have to worry about anyone seeing your tail.” Reno was insistent.

 

Tseng stood beside Rufus's office chair, fully dressed but still collared. Ordinarily when Rufus had an appointment or visitor, the Wutaian stayed in the private bedroom until they were gone. It wouldn't do for his or Rufus's reputation for outsiders to figure out what was really going on here. Tseng glanced at Rufus silently, noting the stony expression on his face.

 

“Sir, perhaps Reno has a good point,” suggested the Turk leader respectfully. “You've hardly left the office except to get things from your apartment. It really isn't healthy.”

 

“Just hear me out,” Reno said, encouraged by Tseng's support. “The place I want to take everyone is a themed club. People dress up in costumes all the time there so if someone spots your tail, they ain't gonna think much of it. The last time I was there I saw a guy dressed up as a sexy bunny.”

 

Rufus quirked a brow. “Exactly what kind of place is this, Reno? I don't know that some of the people you want to bring would be into open sex.”

 

“Relax,” the redhead assured, “The place is eccentric but the worst it's got is cage dancing. If ya try to have sex out in the open, the bouncers toss you out. I've seen it happen before. We'll have a good time, yo. They've got a pub section with pool tables and dartboards and a dance floor in the lounge, so there's something there for everyone. Hell, even if they just wanna kick back with some drinks and talk, they can hang in the lounge.”

 

Rufus considered it. “This club you want to take us to wouldn't happen to be the Shockwave, would it?”

 

Reno nodded and the president sighed.

 

“Reno, that place is elite. On the weekends they are especially discriminating on who they let through the doors.”

 

The redhead shrugged. “It's not a problem, boss. I know the owner personally and if you come too, they're sure to let everyone in.”

 

Rufus exchanged a covertly amused look with Tseng. “So that's the way of it. You want me to come so that your friends can get through the door.”

 

Reno looked properly scandalized. “No way! Sir, ya know I'd never use you like that. Reeve would probably give us enough celebrity status to get the others in if ya don't show up but you need to get out. Ya need to be seen, baby. People are gonna start wondering if you're still alive. Aren't you always saying you've make appearances once in a while to ensure the public everything's okay?”

 

Rufus grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. “I'm beginning to regret ever coming back out of the background and revealing to the world that I'm still alive.” He looked up at Reno's hopeful face and then he looked at Tseng, who was silent but was watching him with coaxing, dark eyes. “Oh, very well. I suppose it might give people a bit of amusement if they spot my tail and believe I've dressed in costume to mingle.”

 

Reno perked up like a fox kit. “Hey, I could pick you up a costume to go with it if ya want,” he said without thinking, “You could wear a pare of ears and some tiger-striped spandex…. er…nah…you wouldn't go for that.” He winced as Rufus glared at him. He was lucky the president was even agreeing to come…no sense in pushing his luck further.

 

~**********************************~

 

As Reno exited the president's office and started down the hall to the elevator, he pulled out a little pad of paper and a pen. He scratched a line through Rufus and Tseng's name with a grin. He'd already talked to Cissnei about convincing Elena to go so that only left Genesis for him to convince. Whistling a little, he got into the elevator and replaced the pad to pull out his cellphone and dial Cloud.

 

“Yo, it's me,” the Turk said when his lover answered the phone. “We've got a puma in the mix now. How are you doing with the toymaker and the vampire?”

 

“Vincent's not a…oh, forget it,” Cloud muttered. “I convinced Reeve but he's going to have to work on Vincent a little. Apparently the last time they went to a club Reeve got attacked and Vincent's not very keen on risking a repeat of it.”

 

“Wow, the guy keeps a pretty tight leash on Tuesti,” Reno snickered softly.

 

“He just wants to keep him safe,” Cloud defended. “I think Reeve can wear him down though. So who's left?”

 

“Just Genesis, if Cissnei works her magic on Elena. He outta be getting back from the training compound pretty soon so I'm heading to the suite wing to catch him before he goes to his room.”

 

“Good luck,” Cloud said. He didn't sound very confident that Reno could pull it off.

 

“I'll tell him Rude's gonna be there,” the redhead chuckled. “That ought to be enough incentive for him.”

 

“Maybe he doesn't like him as much as you think he does,” suggested the blonde.

 

“Baby, you keep underestimating my ability to smell sexual tension from clear across a room. I'm not wrong.”

 

“Okay, if you say so,” Cloud conceded. “I just know how much you want Rude to get what he wants.”

 

“I know I'm not imagining it. I'll see ya soon, Blondie.” Reno hung up the phone and watched the digital numbers overhead as the elevator descended to the floor he was after.

 

~*********************************~

 

The elevator stopped at the recreational floor and Reno was delighted when the doors slid open to admit his partner. Rude smelled like he'd just taken a shower as he stepped into the elevator and gave the redhead a quiet smile.

 

“Hey big guy,” Reno greeted as Rude pressed the garage floor button. “I just left the boss man's office. I convinced him and Tseng to go with us tonight.”

 

Rude nodded. Reno had called him over an hour ago and invited him out. “I was just heading home to get ready.” He noticed the other button lit up and he swallowed, knowing that Genesis was staying on the same floor as Cloud and the others until he got his own place.

 

Reno saw the look, despite the bald man's concealing shades and he smirked. “Wanna make a quick stop on the suite floor with me? Genesis should be coming home from the compound any minute…ya might catch him on the way to his room.”

 

“He'll probably be tired. I don't wanna bother him,” Rude muttered.

 

Reno barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes in exasperation. “Out of everyone in this fucking building, you're probably the only person that wouldn't `bother him', partner. Damn, can't ya see it? Just say `hi' to the guy. You might even wanna ask him to come with us tonight and unwind a little.” The last was said on inspiration. Reno was originally going to invite Genesis but he thought the other redhead would be much more inclined to go if Rude did it himself.

 

Rude's confidence was boosted by the other man's observations. He decided to get off on the floor with Reno when the elevator stopped at it, but when the door slid open he saw Genesis in the hallway, fishing in his long red jacket for his keys. Rude's nerve began to fail him as he stared and recalled vividly the fantasy he'd had about him the other day. Reno started forward but he noticed that Rude wasn't coming with him and he stopped and gave the bald man an exasperated look.

 

“Come on, man. Go talk to him.” Reno grabbed the bigger man's arm and tugged. “What are ya, twelve?” Reno used to wonder why a sexy beast like Rude didn't have scores of guys on the side but the truth was, he sucked at flirting. When it came to going after what he wanted, Rude was like an adolescent boy trying to muster the nerve to ask a girl to a school dance. It looked like he was going to need some help making moves on Genesis.

 

“He's just a guy, like us,” reasoned the redhead in a low voice as he pushed the “hold” button to keep the doors from sliding shut. “Sure, he's got some special skills but in the end he's just a human fucking being, yo. Just invite him to come with us, big guy.”

 

“I can't,” Rude admitted. “I need a few more days to get this fantasy out of my head, man.”

 

Reno perked up with interest. “Fantasy? Come on, partner…give. What'd you fantasize about?”

 

Rude shrugged. “Nothing. Forget about it.”

 

Reno glanced at Genesis and saw that he'd procured his keys and was getting ready to unlock his door. “You don't have much time, pal. Tell me what it was and maybe I can help get ya past it so you can talk to him again.”

 

Rude flushed and against his better judgment, he described his brief visualization to the energetic redhead. Reno grinned predictably at him, his sea-green eyes intrigued. “Hmm, not bad. I can totally see that. But hey, it's all in your head, partner. Genesis can't read minds so he'd not gonna know what you were thinking. Now go talk to him before it's too late!”

 

Rude allowed himself to be led into the hallway but he didn't make a move towards Genesis. He stood frozen by the elevator and Reno couldn't budge him no matter how hard he pulled at his arm. Finally, the redhead heaved a frustrated sigh and told him to wait there.

 

“Hey, Genesis,” Reno called out to Rude's horror. “Hold up a sec!”

 

While Rude watched helplessly, his partner hurried down the hall toward the one-winged fighter. There was a bounce to his step and Rude knew it meant he was up to no good. The bald man groaned silently but he was too dignified to go after Reno and try to wrestle him down. He watched powerlessly as Genesis stopped and looked at the approaching flame-haired Turk.

 

“Is there something I can do for you?” asked Genesis as Reno closed the distance.

 

“Yeah, you can get cleaned up and meet us in the lobby at seven,” Reno said smoothly. “We're all heading to a club tonight. It's kind of a celebration for living through the fight and a send-off party for some of our buds before they go. You're invited, yo.”

 

Genesis wore an expression of wary interest, as though suspecting a prank. His eyes shifted past Reno at Rude, who still stood by the elevator. If it had been another man he might have suspected cowardice, but Genesis knew enough about the bald Turk to understand that he likely wasn't asking because he didn't think it was appropriate, or because he thought he would decline.

 

“Rude's gonna be there,” Reno said in a cajoling tone when he saw the way the aqua eyes settled on his partner. “He said you wouldn't come. Prove him wrong, man.”

 

Genesis smirked. Reno was terrible at being subtle even when he was trying to be. Clearly, the redheaded Turk saw that there was something between the two of them and for reasons Genesis couldn't understand he was encouraging it.

 

“I don't know that I'll fit in,” Genesis said, testing the waters.

 

“Then you'll be in good company.” Reno shrugged. “Most of us aren't exactly ordinary, man. Just come with us and if ya don't have a good time, I'll get you a cab to bring ya back right away. It'd make my partner happy if ya came with, you know?”

 

Genesis thought about it. He honestly hadn't adapted to being around people enough yet to go to a large social gathering and though he'd enjoyed going to nightclubs in his earlier SOLDIER days, he felt like he needed more time to adjust. He was about to decline the invitation but he looked at Rude again and his pulse quickened.

 

~This could present an opportunity that I've been missing.~

 

“Very well,” Genesis said to Reno, his mind made up. “What sort of dress code should I be considering?”

 

“It's not a black tie place,” explained the Turk. “It's sort of a themed place, though. Have ya got anything in tight leather?”

 

Genesis raised a brow at him and Reno snorted, remembering who he was talking to. “Of course ya do. Yeah, something nice, snug and leather outta do you fine, unless you've got a suit you'd rather wear.” He was taking a gamble by suggesting the latter but he really didn't see Genesis as the suit and tie kind of guy. His hunch turned out to be correct.

 

“I haven't purchased a suit or tux yet, so the leather will have to do,” Genesis responded.

 

“Cool. So we'll see ya at seven, then.” With a wink, Reno turned and sauntered back down the hallway to Rude.

 

Genesis watched him with vague suspicion for a moment before letting himself into his suite. If Reno had an ulterior motive for all this beyond trying to set him and Rude up, the fighter couldn't imagine what it was.

 

~**********************************~

 

Rufus and Tseng arrived in the lobby at precisely seven o'clock. They both stopped at the sight of Reno. The redheaded Turk was wearing an outfit composed of red, snakeskin-patterned leather pants, black boots, a clingy red and black mesh shirt with the likeliness of black flames across the chest and a metal-studded belt with a skull on the buckle. Completing the ensemble was a pair of costume horns in place of his usual goggles and a forked tail poking out the back of the pants.

 

“Oddly appropriate,” Tseng complimented, his dark eyes sweeping Reno's form. “What inspired this?”

 

“Thought I'd try going in costume for once,” Reno smirked. He looked at Rufus and winked. “I figured it might loosen some folks up a little, yo.”

 

“What costume?” Rufus said with dry humor. His gray eyes were appreciative as they took in the details of Reno's outfit, however. He looked at the others and he thought they looked quite tasty as well, though much more conservative than Reno. Cloud was wearing a new pair of stonewashed jeans with black oxford shoes and a snug indigo long-sleeved turtleneck shirt. The simple combination was flattering on him, somewhere between casual and dressy. Beside him, his dark counterpart Zackary looked like a rockstar in black leather pants, boots and a deep purple, v-neck muscle shirt.

 

“I picked out there outfits too,” Reno said proudly, his eyes scanning his two companions with leisurely appreciation. “Zack's getup even has slits in the back for his wings if I can convince him to let `em out.”

 

“I feel self-conscious enough already,” the black-haired man muttered. He scratched at the stubble on his jaw. It itched a little but he'd promised Reno he wouldn't shave it off for a couple of days. People stared at him as they passed by and one woman actually tripped over her own feet and spilled the documents she was carrying. Zack hastily went to her side and helped her gather them up, ever chivalrous despite the fact that she'd been eye-humping him a moment ago.

 

Tifa put a hand over her mouth to hide her chuckle. Horn dog that Zack was, he evidently didn't fully realize his own charm…which was part of what made him so appealing to people. She stood by Elena in a pair of loose-bottom hip-hugger tan pants, strappy sandals and a black halter-top. Elena wore a white mini-skirt with matching pumps and a pale blue, satin halter-top. The blonde looked just as amused at Zack's expense as Tifa. Rude stood silently beside both women, dressed in a sharp designer suit, of course. While the bald man tended not to vary his style, his choice of fashion was very becoming on him.

 

“We're dressed to kill, so to speak,” Rufus murmured with a glance around. “Are we all here?” He himself had deviated a bit from his usual colors. He wore a pair of black tailored pants with white dress shoes, a long black jacket to conceal his tail and a white silk button-up shirt underneath it. In tasteful contrast, Tseng wore white pants, black shoes and a black, short-sleeved shirt. A pendant with a silver crane hung around the Wutaian's neck and his raven hair was brushed and unbound, falling in a shiny curtain down his back and shoulders.

 

“We're still waiting on Reeve, Vincent and Genesis,” Cloud said.

 

Rufus recalled Reno saying something about inviting Genesis along but he honestly didn't expect the former First to join them. As for Reeve, he and Vincent were probably late because of last minute arguing. Valentine hated crowds and he disliked the thought of Reeve exposing himself to them even more since the engineer had become such a political figure.

 

“I fear if we wait for Genesis, we may be waiting all night long,” Rufus murmured. “As for Reeve, he's—”

 

“He's right behind you,” Reeve Tuesti finished in good humor as he and Vincent approached.

 

Reno wasn't the only one to give the couple an appreciative look. Reeve wore a pair of navy blue pants and a matching blazer.. His undershirt was solid black. Beside him Vincent was out of his usual body armor and cape, dressed instead in a burgundy button-up shirt, snug black pants and thigh-high black boots. His hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail in the back, while the top was free to tumble over his forehead and frame his face. He was exotic looking and very eye-catching in his semi-period clothing. If it weren't for the metal claw he would have looked like he came out of a pirate romance novel.

 

“Uh, Elena…a little drool,” Tifa whispered to the blonde Turk, who was trying her best to devour Vincent with her eyes without making it obvious.

 

Elena nudged the brunette and blushed. “I'm not that bad…yet.” Being surrounded by sexy, sharp-dressed men was a thrill but the fact that not a single one of them were available was kind of depressing. She smirked at Tifa when she noticed the barmaid eying the guys covertly too. “Hypocrite,” she whispered.

 

“I'm afraid we may have to leave without Genesis,” Tseng announced with a glance at his watch.

 

“Give the guy five more minutes,” Reno suggested. If Genesis went with his suggestion, he was probably still trying to pour himself into his outfit. Reno smirked sidelong at Rude and wondered how he would react if the fighter showed up in the clothes he was imagining. He'd almost asked Genesis if he happened to have a whip to go with the outfit but he'd restrained himself, guessing that if he did that it might convince the fighter to decline the invitation after all.

 

They waited for another five minutes in concordance to Reno's request and the redhead was beginning to wonder if Genesis had chickened out. He sighed softly with disappointment. While he hadn't exactly arranged a date between his partner and the other redhead, he was starting to feel stood up. Just as he was on the verge of muttering a curse and giving up, the elevator chimed and he turned to look with the others as the door opened.

 

Genesis strode out of the elevator into the lobby and Reno felt like cackling with delight. The fighter was dressed pretty close to how he'd imagined and he guessed that the patent leather pants he was wearing must be stretchy for him to be able to move so gracefully in them. Best of all, they were blood red in color and he wore knee-high, thick-heeled laced black boots with them. He wore a long sleeved black mesh shirt under a patent leather vest that matched his pants.

 

“Poor Rude,” Cloud muttered softly as he stared at Genesis. He glanced at the bald Turk and thought the man had stopped breathing for a moment—he was so utterly still. At least he wasn't gurgling the way poor Reeve had that time Vincent disguised himself in a chauffeur uniform.

 

“Apologies for my tardiness,” Genesis said as he approached. “My keys tend to get away from me now and then and I had to conduct a minor search before going out the door.” He walked straight up to Rude, though he'd addressed them all. He caught sight of Reno and he studied him with a slight frown. “Are we going to a club or a costume party?”

 

“Oh, it's a club,” Reno assured him. “Costumes are allowed though and I've always wanted to give it a shot, yo.”

 

~And maybe the boss won't feel so self-conscious if someone else in the group has a tail too.~

 

~************************************~

 

Rufus insisted on everyone arriving in style, so they took two limos to the club despite Reeve's protests that it was entirely un-necessary. The WRO leader looked embarrassed when they arrived at the club and people stared as the driver opened the doors to let them out of the vehicles. Reno took the lead and the others followed behind him to get in line, some eagerly and others with growing reluctance. The redhead didn't seem to mind it when a he got a couple of stares for his getup. The curious looks didn't linger, for as he'd explained to his companions the Shockwave often got patronage dressed in costumes. In fact, there was a woman at the front of the line wearing a pair of big, feathery black wings.

 

Reno nudged Zack with amusement as he jerked his chin at the woman in the fake angel wings. “See? She's got a pair. Why don't you and Gen let yours out?”

 

“I think people might notice if I suddenly sprout a giant pair of wings,” the fighter muttered out the corner of his mouth, his cheeks flushing a bit.

 

Cloud looked at the building with a frown. “I know this place,” he mumbled.

 

“Ya should,” Reno confirmed with a laugh. “This is where we had our first kiss, Blondie.”

 

Cloud shut his eyes and wished he hadn't said anything as the others looked at him with amusement. No wonder the place looked so familiar to him. Reno had ambushed him on his way out after he'd made a delivery to the club owner and the devious redhead had tracked him down to the Lex afterwards and cuffed him to Fenrir. That one-night stand led to another, and yet another after that until the relationship moved beyond casual sex to a permanent arrangement.

 

“I don't remember seeing anyone in costumes,” Cloud said, trying to steer the subject away from his private business.

 

“You weren't having a good look at anyone on your way in or out,” reminded the Turk. “You pretty much just wanted to drop your stuff off and get the hell out of here.”

 

“That's true,” Cloud said with a nod.

 

“I'll bet ya didn't even notice the dancing cages inside,” Reno added.

 

Cloud blinked. “Dancing cages?”

 

“Yup,” Reno nodded. “You would have been standing right over them when ya went up the stairs to bring the goods to Nesmith's office.”

 

“This is going to be more fun than I thought,” Zack said with a wolfish grin. “Think I could get you into one of those cages, chocobo? You'd look even better on a little swing in there…like a bird in a gilded cage.”

 

“Not unless you want to get booted back into the Lifestream,” Cloud said half-jokingly, fighting his blush factor as the girls chuckled and Rufus leered at him subtly. Zack was giving the wrong people bad ideas with his talk of cages and his bird comparisons.

 

“If we're talking about birds in cages, you'd fit that better than Cloud,” Reno smirked at Zack, looking him up and down. “Come on, Bird boy…let your wings out.” He approached the taller man and ran his fingertips up and down Zack's shoulder blades where the slits in his top were, stimulating the spots where the wings emerged from and making the fighter shiver a little.

 

“Reno, don't do that,” Zack warned, stepping away as the caress threatened to trigger his wings. He wasn't sure how or when the redhead had discovered that little trick but if he let him do it for very long, his wings weren't the only things that were going to spring forth.

 

Genesis watched with interest. He had a similar erotic zone and until now, he thought he was alone in that. Reno didn't listen to Zack's warning and he backed the fighter against the wall of the building, obviously not caring about what conclusions people drew from his actions. Genesis watched Rude from the corner of his eye and he almost wished the bald man shared his partner's lack of propriety. Of course, Rude's sober, quiet nature drew Genesis to him in the first place, and so the notion was a fleeting one.

 

“Dammit, Reno,” Zack gasped as the stubborn Turk didn't back down. Tingles raced up and down his spine and he felt a familiar surge of adrenaline. His pants felt uncomfortably tighter in the crotch as he stiffened in them and he heard more than one onlooker gasp an exclamation of surprise as his wings burst free. He sighed in defeat and looked sheepishly at a nearby couple. “Special effects,” he lied.

 

“No, you're that guy,” the young man said. He looked at his girlfriend. “Remember that guy we saw on the internet?”

 

“Oh yeah,” she answered, her eyes big in her face as she looked at Zack. “Those are real, aren't they?”

 

Rufus cleared his throat and looked at Zack with an “I warned you” expression on his face. The scene that the former Soldier had made that day rescuing Reno was coming back to haunt him now, just as Rufus suspected it would eventually. The president spoke up to remedy the situation before it got out of hand.

 

“That was merely a home movie,” he fabricated coolly. “What you saw on that video clip was nothing more than fancy special effects, like just now. He's a master stuntman, you see.”

 

The couple looked at Zack thoughtfully, as did others nearby. With his toned build it wasn't hard to believe he was a stuntman and someone whispered that the man who had spoken up was President Shinra, which stifled any further questions people might have asked. There was more whispering as people recognized Reeve, too.

 

“I told you this was a bad idea,” Vincent muttered to his lover as the line slowly moved. “People know who you are already. If someone takes a shot at you tonight—”

 

“Relax,” Rufus interrupted softly. “Anyone entertaining thoughts of assassination is more likely to go for me over Reeve. The political gain would be greater and I'm far less liked.”

 

Vincent lapsed into silence, forced to agree with his logic.

 

The doorman spotted Reno and his group as the line moved them closer and when he recognized that the Turk had not one, but two important people with him, he waved them over. “Hey Reno, long time no see,” he said as Reno motioned to his group and walked over to the bouncer. “Is that the president and the WRO leader with you?”

 

“Yeah, we're celebrating tonight, man,” answered the Turk. “Think ya could save us some waiting?”

 

The bouncer did a quick head count of the group. Ordinarily he wouldn't let so many unfamiliar faces go in without screening but this situation was anything but ordinary. “Any of `em packing?”

 

Reno looked at him incredulously. “What do you think? Turks and two VIP's? Come on, be serious.”

 

“Right,” the doorman agreed with a grimace. Firearms weren't usually allowed but the owner made exceptions for the Turks and celebrity bodyguards. “Let me stamp your hands and you guys can go on in.”

 

~*****************************************~

 

Zack didn't retract his wings once they got inside because there was no place private enough to do it without someone witnessing it. Reno felt only slightly remorseful and he paid for Zack's first round of drinks to make up for it. Reeve, Rufus, Tseng and Vincent claimed a lounge booth to relax and have some drinks, while Elena dragged Tifa onto the dance floor with her. Zack, Cloud and Reno went straight to the bar and Rude and Genesis followed suit.

 

Cloud tried not to look at the half-naked woman dancing in one of the cages a few feet away but her gyrations kept catching his eye and drawing his attention.

 

“You ain't going straight on me are ya, babe?” Reno murmured in his ear as he handed a bourbon and soda to him.

 

Cloud shook his head and took the drink. “No…it's just kind of distracting. I don't' know how anyone could do that.”

 

Reno shrugged. “Guess you've never been to a strip club, then. People do things a lot crazier than dancing or taking their clothes off for money or attention. What that lady's doing is nothing compared to some of the shit I've seen in my lifetime.”

 

“Yeah? Like what?”

 

Reno shared a look with Rude. “You're still pretty wet behind the ears, Cloud. We've seen people mutilate themselves for a buck. At least the people cage dancing here are just doing it for fun, yo.”

 

“You've been living in Midgar and Edge for all these years and you're surprised by a little cage dancing?” Zack asked with amusement as he sipped his beer.

 

Cloud shrugged. “Not surprised, just a little confused by the motivation.”

 

“Hmm, you can take the boy out of the country but ya can't take the country out of the boy,” Reno said with a wink. His drink arrived and he took a heavy swallow of it.

 

Rude politely asked Genesis what he wanted to drink, since he was closer to the bar.

“Do they still make tequila sunrises?” Genesis murmured uncertainly. How many years had it been since he'd set foot in a place like this? He wasn't even certain tequila was still on the market.

 

Rude hid his amusement and nodded. “Want an extra shot with that?”

 

Genesis almost declined but he'd already been more nervous than he cared to admit before they'd even arrived. The noise and the crowds were making it worse. “That would be good, thank you.”

 

Rude ordered the drink for him and for himself, he ordered a Bloody Mary. Genesis overheard his choice of drinks and his lips twisted a little.

 

“Tomato juice and Vodka?”

 

Rude raised his eyebrows. “What's wrong with that?”

 

“I'm not sure,” admitted the redhead, lowering his aqua eyes. “It's just something that's always sounded rather disgusting to me.”

 

“They make really good Bloody Mary's here,” Rude defended. “You should try a sip of mine when it's ready. You might like it.” He was surprised at himself. He'd been sure he wouldn't be able to say so much as two words to Genesis without getting flustered, but with so many people surrounding them it was easier to talk to him. He guessed it was because the crowds made it feel a little more casual. He couldn't stop his eyes from straying below the neck when Genesis wasn't looking but he didn't feel like he was trying to ask the guy to marry him by talking to him now.

 

“Hey Genesis, you should let your wing out,” Reno suggested, leaning back to look at him around the guy wedged between him and Rude.

 

Genesis gave Reno a warning look, annoyed that he just blurted it out like that. “I'd rather not,” he said in a tone of strict finality.

 

Reno was smart enough not to push further. He shrugged and brought his drink to his lips. “Suit yourself.”

 

Rude looked at his partner, then at Genesis. “He's just trying to get everyone loosened up,” he explained apologetically.

 

“I can tell,” answered Genesis with a little smirk. “Sometimes one has to be firm, however.”

 

His words made Rude think of him cracking a whip again and the bald man swallowed. What Genesis was wearing now was perfect for the fantasy and the whip was really the only thing missing from it. The Turk thanked the bartender a bit more enthusiastically than he intended to when he finished making their drinks and placed them in front of him. He didn't start drinking his right away but instead held it out to Genesis, raising his eyebrows in silent question.

 

The fighter looked at the offered drink with a delicate little twist to his lips, but he took it and met Rude's eyes as he brought it to his lips and took an experimental sip. His expression relaxed a little and he sipped again before handing it back and taking his tequila sunrise from the Turk's hand.

 

“Not bad,” Genesis admitted. “It tastes a bit like salsa and it makes me want to dip corn chips in it.”

 

Rude came very close to laughing at that. “Have you eaten?”

 

“I nuked a bag of steam vegetables and ate it before I left,” answered the fighter before he took a drink from his cocktail. He closed his eyes in pleasure at the taste and swished it around on his tongue. “Mmm, just as I remember it.”

 

Rude was staring. He knew he was staring but he couldn't stop. Did Genesis have any idea how fucking hot he looked with that expression of pleasure on his face? Probably not…most people didn't pay attention to their facial expressions when they were enjoying good food or drink. Damn, everything the man did was sensual.

 

“I'll have to watch myself,” Genesis said when he opened his eyes again. He smiled dryly at Rude. “My tolerance probably leaves much to be desired these days and I could easily drink too many of these.”

 

Rude nodded silently, thinking he detected a flirtatious tone in the other man's voice. Was there an invitation in there somewhere for him to take advantage if Genesis went over his limit? Was it only wishful thinking making him hear it? He wasn't used to flirting in code and he didn't know how to respond.

 

Meanwhile, Reno was trying to convince someone to dance with him. “Come on, Cloud…with hip action like yours I know you'd be hot on the dance floor.”

 

Cloud shook his head. “Give it up. I don't dance.”

 

Reno sighed and looked Zack up and down. “What about you, Zack? You can dance, right?”

 

Zack shrugged. “Sure, I can dance…if you don't mind people laughing at us. Anyone can dance but that doesn't mean they do it good.”

 

Reno grumbled and looked Rude's way. No, his partner wouldn't dance. He knew that for a fact from past unsuccessful attempts to get him to do it. Genesis looked slightly interested and Reno's attention perked up as another plan formulated in his sly mind. Rude had a weakness for redheads and Reno could tell that thread of control he was clinging to was stretched pretty thin. Two redheads dancing together in front of him might just snap it clean and put an end to all this pussyfooting around. He downed the rest of his drink and moved in on the other redhead.

 

“How about it, Genesis? Wanna finish your drink and go out there with me?” Genesis didn't strike Reno as the sort of guy that had to put on manly airs to feel confident and he'd noticed him looking out at the dance floor more than once.

 

Genesis considered the question. While Reno wasn't exactly the partner he'd been imagining, he could tell he'd never get Rude out there while the bald man was sober. He doubted he could do it even if he were stumbling drunk. He nodded and finished his drink, surprising both Reno and Rude a little.

 

~Well damn, that was easier than I thought it would be,~ thought Reno as he and Genesis made their way through the crowds and to the dance floor. ~This guy's full of surprises. Hmph…I may not be into other redheads but I think I'm gonna enjoy this.~

 

“I'll be damned,” Zack said as he and the others watched the two of them go. “Red's cracking that shell of his a little. I never even knew Genesis was the dancing type.”

 

Rude's surprise wore off as he watched his partner and Genesis pair up near where Tifa and Elena were dancing. It wasn't so odd to him that someone who enjoyed music and poetry as much as Genesis would also enjoy a dance now and then. Once they got started, Rude couldn't tear his eyes away. While he knew Reno wasn't interested in Genesis that way it was in his nature to be sensual and flirtatious. Genesis didn't seem to mind the provocative way the Turk was gyrating against him and he responded in kind. Their hands stayed at their sides but they were dancing hip-to-hip and looking at one another intensely.

 

“Uh…do we need to get a firehose?” Zack commented as he also noticed the blatantly sensual way they were dancing.

 

Cloud put his head in his hands and groaned a little as he understood what Reno was doing. He supposed it was better than the Turk literally trying to shove his partner at Genesis and to be fair there were other couples of both genders dancing just as provocatively together as the two redheads were. He wondered if it was a good idea to push Rude's buttons so much. He'd never seen the man lose control before but as a “quiet” guy himself, Cloud knew that he could only take so much before snapping and when that happened, it was usually pretty intense.

 

At their booth, Rufus and the others also spotted Reno on the dance floor with Genesis and Reeve began to laugh.

 

“I fail to see the humor,” Vincent murmured, his voice barely heard over the beat of the music and the voices all around them.

 

“Take a look at the bar and you'll see,” Reeve suggested between chuckles as he reached for his brandy. “The dancing isn't what's funny…it's the hidden agenda and the reaction it's causing.”

 

Rufus was likewise smirking with amusement, his eyes going from the couple on the floor to the three men standing by the bar several feet away. Tseng sighed and shook his head, amazed at Reno's talent for detecting attraction between two people that most people missed. The only other person that had picked up on it so quickly was Rufus, who had made the comment that Genesis seemed to fancy Rude when the eccentric poet had begun helping them against Deepground.

 

Vincent followed the line of the other's gazes and at first, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. He hadn't picked up on Reeve's interest in him until he kissed him that night and he was still abysmally ignorant of sexual attraction between other people when it wasn't right there in his face. He didn't see anything that should inspire amusement. Zack and Cloud were in a relationship with Reno, so it made sense that they were enjoying the sight of him dancing with Genesis…though how the three of them could sleep together without jealousy was a mystery to him.

 

His eyes narrowed on Rude, standing nearby the two swordsmen. There was something…odd…about the bald Turk's stance. It was unusually stiff and tense. Rude was normally cool and collected even under pressure, so why was the sight of his partner dancing with Genesis making him so restless?

 

~Jealousy? No, that can't be. There's something else troubling him and the others obviously know what it is and find it funny. It's difficult to tell with those shades covering his eyes.~

 

Vincent gave his lover a faintly annoyed look as Reeve chuckled again. “I give up, what's so entertaining about this? Obviously it has something to do with Rude but I fail to see what.”

 

Rufus obligingly cleared up the confusion. “You may have noticed that Genesis trusted Rude before he trusted anyone else with the information he provided to us. Likewise, Rude has been getting on with him much better than anyone else. The problem is they haven't acted on this apparent attraction they share and our Fox isn't one for patience.”

 

Vincent looked at Reno and Genesis again, taking note of the way they moved against one another on the dance floor. Generally that sort of dancing was a prelude to sex…a human mating ritual commonly practiced in nightclubs like this.

 

“So now Reno intends to sleep with Genesis to provoke his partner into a jealous rage?” reasoned Vincent.

 

Reeve coughed and put his drink down, shaking his head as he wiped at his eyes with a napkin. Poor, naïve Vincent…he saw the world in such a naked, simplistic way. It was endearing. He was hard-pressed not to tease his lover over the simplistic way Vincent viewed the world, but he didn't want to offend him so he chose to be diplomatic about it.

 

“He's provoking him to make a move on Genesis,” Reeve explained bluntly.

 

“By dancing suggestively with him?” Vincent asked dubiously. “I'd be more inclined to rip another man's throat out if they danced with you that way.”

 

Rufus and Tseng both looked torn between horror and amusement at the gunman's dark, simple comment. Reeve cleared his throat and shifted in his seat a little, embarrassingly thrilled by Vincent's declaration of jealousy. The dynamics in their relationship were anything but typical and though Valentine might come off as an overly possessive control-freak to some, the truth was that there was a balanced exchange of power between them and Reeve was just as possessive of him…he just wasn't as obvious in public about it. If another man were to bump and grind against the gunman that way in front of him, people would see Reeve's jealousy rear its ugly head very quickly.

 

“Well, they aren't us,” Reeve explained. “But you know that already.”

 

“You can't imagine the sight of your lover dancing with someone that way as something erotic?” Rufus questioned, his tongue loosened a bit by the alcohol.

 

Vincent shook his head slowly, his crimson eyes dead serious. “No. I wouldn't find it erotic at all. I'd find it infuriating. I suppose for someone in the arrangement you all share it's another matter, however. Far be it from me to criticize, even if I don't understand it.”

 

“To each their own,” Rufus conceded politely. He raised his glass in a toast and the others followed suit.

 

~**********************************~

 

“I don't think I can drink fast enough,” Zack complained as he tried to shift his package to a more comfortable position without being obvious about it. He'd just gotten his body calmed down after Reno teased his wings into manifestation and now the outrageous Turk had him going again with that dance floor display.

 

Cloud chuckled softly, though he sympathized with his black-haired lover. He was having a little trouble too but unlike Zack, he wasn't wearing pants that hugged his body in a way that showed it off.

 

“Why don't we go shoot some pool or darts?” Cloud suggested. “It should be quieter in the pub area and it might take your mind off…things.” He looked at Zack's crotch before he could stop himself and the taller man growled at him softly.

 

“Okay, but you've got to control those pretty blue eyes of yours,” Zack grumbled, “they're just encouraging it.”

 

Cloud smirked. It was true that male genitals tended to have a mind of their own but Zack talked about his like it was an unruly dog he couldn't keep leashed. “Come on, I'll try not to look again.”

 

Zack started to follow Cloud but one of his bulky wings bumped into a woman as he squeezed through the crowd and she nearly lost her balance. He caught her quickly and apologized.

 

“Sorry about that, honey. These things are kind of hard to navigate crowds with.” He helped her catch her balance and he could tell she'd had one too many drinks. She blinked hazel eyes up at him and smiled with delight.

 

“So whose guardian angel are you?” the woman purred, giving Zack an appreciative scan.

 

“Whoever needs me,” he said with a grin. He immediately regretted the glib words as soon as they left his mouth. Her judgment was impeded by alcohol and the predatory look in her eyes suggested that his comment came off more flirtatious than he'd intended it to.

 

“If all the angels look like you, I can't wait to get to the Lifestream.” She said.

 

“Uh, thanks. Hey look…ack!” Zack hastily reached behind his body. “Hands! I'm not that kind of angel!” He was blushing hotly as he tried to pry her squeezing hands off of his ass without being rough. Cloud heard the commotion and turned around to look at him. His blue eyes were wide for a moment but he quickly found amusement in the sight of the other fighter's struggle and he crossed his arms over his chest and watched.

 

“Why so shy?” the woman slurred, pressing against him boldly.

 

Zack gave Cloud a pleading look. He was a flirt with just about everyone but he wasn't used to being literally grabbed like this by a complete stranger. Cloud rolled his eyes and came to his rescue.

 

“He's my guardian angel,” Cloud said in the tone of a jealous boyfriend, though Zack could see the twinkle of mirth in his eyes. “Sorry he gave you the wrong idea.” He put an arm around Zack's waist and led him away from the disappointed lady. “I can't turn my back on you for a second,” he said loudly enough for her to hear it.

 

Once they were out of earshot, Zack sighed in relief. “Thanks, Goldie. I forgot what a jungle places like this can be.”

 

“Maybe if you wouldn't flirt so much,” Cloud suggested with a sidelong, exasperated look at him.

 

“I wasn't!” Zack protested, “Not on purpose, anyhow. Well, at least my problem's going away now. That scared the boner right out of me.”

 

Cloud blurted a laugh.

 

~************************************~

 

“You really are determined, aren't you?” Genesis murmured the question in Reno's ear. The Turk's back was pressed against his front and the fighter's hips were gyrating against his ass.

 

Reno didn't pretend not to know what he was talking about. Both of them noticed Rude watching and it was obvious that he found the sight of them dancing together more than interesting.

 

“Something's got to fire the starter pistol,” Reno agreed. “Don't tell me ya don't want him.”

 

Genesis met Rude's eyes across the distance. He could tell the bald man was meeting his gaze even though the shades concealed his eyes. He could feel the heat of that gaze on him. He put his hands on Reno's hips and made a show of nuzzling his neck.

 

“Yes, I want him,” Genesis admitted. “You're a peculiar one, though. I can't say that I've ever met anyone that would resort to such unusual methods to throw two people together. I can tell that you have no intentions toward me yourself.”

 

“Yeah?” Reno turned his head and smirked at him. “How do ya know I'm not just trying to seduce you?”

 

“If you were, I doubt you'd be putting on this show for your partner,” Genesis purred. “You're more aggressive than that.”

 

Reno shivered a little. He had to hand it to the guy; he had sensuality in spades. He was for Rude though, not him. “I do whatever it takes, man. You belong to Rude,” he confirmed a little breathlessly. “I'm just warming the seat for him `till he's ready to use it.”

 

Genesis nearly stopped moving. “Now I'm certain you aren't trying to seduce me.” While the part about him “belonging to Rude” didn't trouble him at all, the metaphor that followed was so crude it was almost laughable. If he'd been entertaining thoughts of dragging Reno off to a dark corner, that would have snapped him out of it like a splash of cold water to the face.

 

“You're good,” Reno complimented. Genesis might be subtler in his methods than Reno but he obviously knew more about games of seduction than most people. “I could use another drink and it looks like my wolves just took off to the rec room. What do ya say we grab Rude and go shoot some pool with `em? The big man loosens up more if he's into the game, you know?”

 

“I think that sounds like a fair plan,” Genesis answered.

 

They shared a brief, conspirative smile before they broke away from each other and walked off of the dance floor. Rude watched them approach and the horn-bedecked redhead imagined that if he put his head against his partner's chest, the sound of his heartbeat would probably be deafening.

 

~Oh yeah…someone's getting laid tonight if things keep up the way they are. Someone besides me, that is.~

 

~**********************************~

 

-To be continued