Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Chronicles of Valentine ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

Chronicles of Valentine: Chapter Three

 

>>October 8, 2000<<

 

Despite what I claimed, the next opportunity to get Reeve alone came two weeks later, not that I hadn't been making my presence known before then. I had learned that it was rather easy to fluster Reeve, even when I hadn't intentionally done anything.

 

It was the subtle flirtations that were more my style rather than outright groping and words. I stood unnecessarily close, which was still rather far considering how near other people would hover, but for me it was enough to remind Reeve of my presence. I deliberately lowered the tone of my voice and I spoke with words laced with carefully constructed innuendo.

 

It was somewhat cruel what pleasure I took in causing a man his age to flush red or stammer, finding somewhere to look other than at myself. At least I was assured that he truly was interested and not simply attempting to attach to the nearest person regardless of gender. All it took was a simple brush of my arm against his, or the hint of my breath on his ear for a light pink blush to stain his cheeks.

 

It was a measure of my self-restraint, these past couple of weeks. Because of the attempted assassination, Reeve was working double-time to figure out who was behind it and why. Not to mention one of his construction sites had recently collapsed for an unknown reason. Monster attacks were getting more frequent and a new breed of Malboro had shown its face, whose breath was instant death and reproduced far too rapidly for anyone's comfort.

 

In all of those events, there was scarce time to breathe, much less find time to slowly peel away the layers of Reeve's dress suit.

 

“If it gets any worse, I might have to call Cloud,” Reeve was saying with a sigh, his eyes turned down to the map of the continent on the table in front of us. I wasn't looking at the map however. I had long ago memorized its contents.

 

Of course, I wasn't really listening to whatever it was he was saying either though I looked as if I were fully paying attention. His office was empty except for the two of us, being as it was nearly eight in the evening. He had called me in wanting to ask for my opinion on something to do with the Malboros. All of the other issues were being dealt with in their own way, but this one was still causing him difficulty.

 

I hovered beside him, unnecessarily close as he gestured towards certain ares of the map, outlining the regions where the monsters were known to appear. I wasn't watching his hands though, I was watching his lips move because I wanted to kiss him again. I had stolen my fair share in the past two weeks as it amused me endlessly to watch his reactions but enough was enough. The crises could wait half a day, or longer were we so inclined.

 

“I have some scouts that believe - Vincent!”

 

I gave him an innocent look despite the fact that I had just breathed hotly on his ear.

 

“Is work all you think about?” I returned mildly when he shot me a look from the corner of his eyes.

 

“No,” he huffed, reaching for the map and promptly rolling it up. “But these creatures are dangerous and--”

 

“Tuesti,” I interrupted smoothly, having heard enough of the malboros for one day. “Do you want me or not?” I was being blunt because I was out of patience. It wasn't usually my style but I didn't want to dance around in endless circles either. It was tiring and I left my dancing shoes back in high school.

 

It wasn't that I had forgotten Lucrecia, or how much I cared for her, or how I would never forgive myself. No, that guilt still lingered. It rang inside of me strongly, reminding me how little I actually deserved to find happiness.

 

But I also recognized that for all of the fighting I had done, helping to end Sephiroth's pain and madness and destroying Hojo, a small part of my guilt was absolved. I would never forget her, or what I owed Lucrecia. But I wanted to think that she would not have wanted me to completely distance myself from humanity either.

 

And Reeve deserved what little happiness he could find as well. He was a distraction, a friend, and most of all, a warmth inside of this cold heart. I had nothing but time in the world. I could mourn for Lucrecia all my life. She would always hold parts of me that I could never give to another. But perhaps she wouldn't mind if I let go, just a little.

 

And promise to never let something like that happen again.

 

Reeve looked a little flustered as my question sank in. “I do,” he answered, turning to face me. “It's just--”

 

I kissed him, cupping his face with my hands and tilting his head towards mine. He sighed into my mouth and returned the kiss, his fingers coiling into the folds of my cloak as he sank against the table behind us. I pressed him against it, nudging my way between his legs as I kissed him. To my relief, and great pride, I felt an answering hardness against my thigh. I had been arousing him without even knowing it.

 

His tongue slid into my mouth with less hesitation this time, eagerly and with a sense of hunger in his movements. I deepened the kiss, dropping one of my hands to settle it on his hips. I trapped him against the table, unwilling to let him escape my grasp this time. A sound echoed low in his throat, shooting straight to his groin as I practically felt his heartbeat. My sensitive hearing could pick up the increasing rate, the thump-thump of his excitement.

 

My free hand reached for Reeve's pants, stroking him through the fabric of his dress slacks. Reeve's kiss slackened for all of a moment, he moaning into my mouth as I felt him harden against my touch. I dragged my mouth to his ear, sucking on the bottom of his lobe. He gasped into my ear, a warm puff of air against the shell. My name might have been said.

 

I felt my own blood beginning to stir, rushing through my veins and sending sparks of interest through my body. Reeve's hands gripped at the table as if to ground himself, his hips moving into my touch.

 

I deftly reached for his button, flicking it open with a twist of my wrist and sliding down the zipper. The sound was startlingly loud in the silence as I reached into his sagging pants and pulled down his boxers, only to wrap my fingers around his length. He jerked into my touch as I slid my palm across his sensitive flesh.

 

My mouth found his neck, dragging teeth gently against flesh that was several shades darker than my own. The faint taste of his sweat was sharp against my tongue, but nothing compared to the subtle scents of his cologne and his soap, easily noticed by my advanced senses.

 

“I should be working,” he managed to get out, though it wasn't that convincing.

 

I stroked him, inspiring another groan from him that shot straight to my own groin. He could be sexy without even realizing it.

 

“If you would prefer to look at maps, you are more than welcome to cry stop,” I responded, giving him a particularly long and rough stroke.

 

His breath hitched. “The world can wait.”

 

It was all the permission I needed. Smirking to myself at an easy victory, I dragged my mouth from his neck, and lowered to one knee. One hand pushed aside his pants and boxers to his knees, his dress shirt hanging down to grant him some covering, not that he needed.

 

He gasped as I breathed hotly over the head of his arousal. “W-what are you...?” The question died however.

 

“I should think it obvious,” I remarked before leaning forward and curling my tongue around his organ, sucking him into my mouth.

 

Reeve groaned helplessly, his hips jerking towards the wet heat of my mouth. I held him down from bucking too deeply, he unable to overcome my greater strength.

 

“Gods,” he gasped, beginning to pant. One of his hands found my shoulder, gripping tightly but not attempting to force my pace.

 

I was glad for it. I took Reeve slowly, working my mouth around his length. I was grateful for his average size. It had been some time since I had last done this for another man and I was sorely out of practice. Not that Reeve would have known the difference. Knowing him, he had only known his hand recently.

 

I wasn't expecting much, just wanting to bring Reeve pleasure. He had been working so hard, straining himself and taking on more stress than a normal man could handle. I was willing to grant him a single moment of release with no reciprocation needed if necessary. I didn't expect Reeve to jump into my bed immediately anyways.

 

I had never been that optimistic.

 

It didn't take long before Reeve groaned, low and long, and then spilled into my mouth. I bore the bitter rush of hot seed and then. when he was finished, casually spit into a handkerchief I borrowed from Reeve's pants. I knew he carried one and was too polite to simply spit onto the floor.

 

Licking my lips, I dropped the soiled towel onto the table behind Reeve and grabbed his lips for another kiss. He returned it eagerly, hands gripping onto the side of my shirt. He didn't even wrinkle his nose at the taste of his own seed as I would have expected.

 

The kiss ended with a parting nip and somewhat satisfied, I pulled back, my hands reaching to pull his pants back into place. However, his fingers covered mine before I could even move them an inch. I raised my eyes back to his, always relieved that he didn't flinch at the full force of my crimson stare.

 

“What about you?” he asked.

 

I raised a brow. “No hesitation?”

 

The flush that took over his face made him look years younger, stealing red onto his cheeks. “I'm not entirely unlearned,” Reeve responded, his fingers pressing gently against my side. “I know a little about how this works.”

 

Part of me was amused. But it was entirely outvoted by the part of me that was really interested, trapped within the confines of my pants.

 

“As enjoyable as that sounds, I'm not exactly prepared,” I answered with some regret, for once not having the foresight. My sensei back at the Academy would have berated me.

 

It was Reeve's turn to lift a brow, voice taking on a teasing note. “I thought Turks were supposed to always be ready.”

 

“I'm not a Turk anymore,” I countered, leaning in and brushing my lips across the clean-shaven portion of his jaw. I felt him shiver as I pressed closer, the heat between us something palpable.

 

“Could've fooled me,” Reeve murmured, and then our lips were meeting again, something deep and lingering and I pressed him against the table. He was trapped, but he didn't seem to be fighting too hard for escape. I had him right where I wanted him.

 

One of his hands crept to my slacks, reaching for the small belt. I had taken to wearing regular clothing when around Reeve, something similar to my Turk regalia. It was easier to blend into the crowd than carting around in that crimson cloak and gold claw. As he fumbled with the clasp, my fingers slipped between our bellies, sliding beneath his shirt and palming the warm skin I found.

 

“It doesn't have to be anything special, right?” Reeve asked, his voice breaking the soft silence.

 

I stopped my exploration, looking up at him with a question in my gaze.

 

The blush, still remaining, deepened slightly. “I did my research.”

 

Just like a scientist or engineer. I should have expected as much. It reassured me as well that it wasn't just him wanting the nearest person. He had actually thought about it. He really was worth my time.

 

I scraped my fingers over his belly, watching him shiver. “No, it doesn't.”

 

His face took on the look of a man calculating something. “Hold on,” he murmured, and then slid out from between me and the table.

 

I watched as he left the room, the door wide open behind him. There was the sound of things being scooted around, a chair, a drawer pulled open and then him rifling and rooting around. He appeared in the doorway, holding up a bottle of lotion rather victoriously.

 

“I'll buy her a new bottle,” Reeve explained, confirming my suspicions that he had pilfered it from his Secretary's desk.

 

I reached for it but Reeve moved the bottle out of my hold, something playful in his grin. “Your turn,” he said, reaching forward and tugging on my shirt.

 

I understood him perfectly, but I wasn't going to be entirely dissuaded. Ignoring the lotion for now, I leaned in and captured his lips. He returned the kiss eagerly, setting the bottle on the table behind him. I backed him towards it, hands groping and roaming.

 

His fingers found the buttons of my shirt, undoing them quickly and efficiently. I knew the moment he caught the scar on my chest when he sucked in a breath and the tip of one digit traced the railroad-like marking.

 

Straight down the chest, following the divide of the ribs. It arched up into a y near the top of my chest. Just like an autopsy.

 

“So warm,” he murmured, fingers pressing against my skin.

 

I wasn't a corpse, despite what the scar might have signaled. The warmth of my flesh, the beating of my heart within my ribcage proved that. And I had demons to thank for my life. Thankfully, however, Reeve refrained from mentioning all of the morbid details that involved my existence.

 

“Women would kill for this skin,” he murmured instead, remarking on my lack of any other marks. I was good as a Turk, no modesty needed.

 

“Flatterer,” I returned, and kissed him again before he could say anything else.

 

Our tongues tangled sloppily as I pushed him back against the table, mine own arousal becoming pressing. His fingers dug into my side encouragingly, his hips rolling against mine. Encouraged by this, I pulled back and turned him around, having plans for him.

 

I grabbed the lotion and almost immediately, he tensed, shoulders and back locking up. I had expected it. Luckily, I wasn't planning what he thought I was. There were other ways to enjoy ourselves without anal penetration. His shirt quickly found its way to the floor.

 

I leaned forward, pressing my bare chest to his back and breathed hotly against his neck. One hand poured the lotion without looking, dropping the bottle back to the table.

 

“As much as you think you're ready,” I murmured into his ear, fingers teasing at Reeve's entrance before slicking his thighs with the lightly scented lotion. “I'm not.”

 

“Then what are you..?”

 

“You'll see. Close your legs.”

 

Reeve obeyed as I settled my hands on his hips, angling him to my advantage. I pressed my mouth to Reeve's shoulder and took position, sliding the head of my arousal between Reeve's legs. I could feel my shaft nudge at Reeve's entrance before sliding slickly into the perfect space. I began a shallow thrusting, surrounded by heat and pressure.

 

Reeve sucked in a breath. “I see,” he muttered, palms against the table and fingers clenching against the wood.

 

“There is more than one way to have sex,” I explained, dragging my teeth against Reeve's shoulders. “Though this may be slightly more messy.”

 

Reeve chuckled breathlessly, his hips moving restlessly. “Still good,” he managed and shifted back to meet my thrusts. He pushed his legs closer together, tightening the grip around my member.

 

My fingers clenched on his hips and it was to my amazement that he was hard yet again. I reached around him, stroking my fingers around his length. I watched his muscles flex and shift as he moved with me, the table rattling beneath the force of our motion. He really was quite the attractive man and each time I wrung a gasp from him, my own blood boiled.

 

I was quite worked up as it was, yet I lingered, enjoying the wet slide between his legs. I felt my length rasp against his scrotum, catching and teasing against his entrance. Reeve felt it, too, and I wondered what it would be like to actually enter him. Not for now, but later perhaps. If he would allow me again.

 

Reeve groaned, though it wasn't one of pain, and I watched his fingers dig into the polished surface of the table. I was relieved to see that he was enjoying it as much as I. Leaning forward, I pressed another open-mouthed kiss to his shoulder, letting my free hand wander from its grip on his hip to roam over his front. I held him against me, grinding against his rather plump buttocks. Fingers plucked at his nipples, something I would assume no one had ever touched on him before from his reaction.

 

Then it was heat and softness and the rough slide of my palm over his shaft and the slick feel of thrusting between his legs. It was his moans filling the room, and my quiet gasps. The taste of his skin against my lips and the feel of his rhythm as we moved together. It was the table rattling beneath us and the whirr of the air conditioner sputtering to life.

 

I was the first to lose my control, understandable since I had been restraining myself longer. I held Reeve against me, pressed to his back and bit down his shoulder. He grunted but didn't complain, especially since I didn't break the skin. Heart beating wildly and body thrumming, I worked Reeve's organ skillfully and it was only several more strokes before he released as well.

 

With a gasp, the both of us collapsed onto the table, though I wisely steered to the side to avoid falling atop him. I gave myself several moments to catch my breath, noticing that Reeve did the same, as air from the vents above blasted cool air on our heated skin.

 

The aftermath of our excursion was plain to see. My shirt still dangled from my shoulders and Reeve's pants were tangled around his feet. My own sagged around my hips, keeping up by the grace of Kami. He barely stood, his weight kept up by palms balanced flat on the table, shoulders hunched. His own shirt had been thrown to Kami knew where and a mark was reddening on his upper mark.

 

Drawing myself upwards so that a hip was cocked against the table, I reached out a finger, tracing the small semi-circle with the tip of it. Reeve shivered and turned to look at me, his amber eyes darkened and sweat glistening.

 

“I'm so glad I took that chance,” he murmured, reaching with one hand to swipe a palm across his forehead and run fingers through his dark hair.

 

I couldn't help it; I chuckled at him. It was such a Reeve thing to say. For all his manipulations and his ShinRa-associations, he could be incredibly honest with his feelings sometimes. I think it was one of the things that gave him away to me.

 

“I'm serious,” he insisted.

 

“I know you are,” I responded, watching him for signs of... well, something. I wasn't sure what. But I would know when I found it.

 

His lips quirked into a grin and he shifted. I could tell he registered mess when he grimaced, looking down at himself. “I need a bath,” he lamented, reaching for the used handkerchief and using it to the best of his abilities.

 

I straightened, dragging my fingers down his spine. “I told you it was messy.”

 

“That you did.”

 

There was a moment of silence, and I could tell he was debating something internally. I read hesitation in his stance, in the way he furrowed his brow and sucked briefly on his bottom lip.

 

“Would you like to come back to my apartment with me?” he asked, without turning to look at me.

 

In the midst of buttoning my shirt and pulling up my pants, I nodded faintly, even if he couldn't see it. “Yes.”

 

I heard him breathe a sigh, which might have been out of relief, before he turned and began searching for his clothing.

 

I couldn't help but tease him. “Don't you have work to finish?”

 

The look he gave me was a mix of exasperation and disbelief. “You were the one who distracted me.”

 

We bantered between us a bit more and it was so blessedly normal, lacking in all the awkwardness I was expecting. A part of me was immensely relieved, half-believing Reeve would suddenly become ill at ease.

 

Nothing had changed and for that, I was grateful.

 

<<February 15, 2001>>

 

I breathed in the nicotine, watching the tip flare orange in front of me before pulling the cigarette away from my lips. The rush of the drug hit my system and I briefly felt the force of it before the mako burned the pleasant sensation. Damn experiments. I couldn't even enjoy cigarettes anymore.

 

I shifted position on the bed, letting the hand holding the cigarette dangle over the edge and smoke faintly. Next to me, Reeve yawned and stirred, making half an effort to get out of the bed. The window showed the greyish-blue of early morning, a luminescent light peeking in through the blinds. It was nearly time for the both of us to be up, yet we lingered in bed. My body still thrummed from our early morning excursions and I lamented the mess within the sheets. Both of us would need baths.

 

“As often as you berate Cid for them, it is still strange to see you smoking,” Reeve commented, watching me.

 

I took another drag and looked at the offending stick of cancer. “It was a habit I had when I was a Turk,” I answered, throwing my hand to the side to tip ash into the tray. “Besides, it's not like it'll really hurt me now.”

 

My lover chuckled, rolling over on the bed. “Excuses, excuses,” he teased, biting back on a yawn. Understandable, considering that we were up late the night before. I had come in rather late from my own business and we both ended up crashing pretty early.

 

The morning was slow and quiet, relaxing even. I heard the faint sounds of few cars passing outside the window, several floors down. Somewhere else in the complex a baby cried, demanding attention from its mother. The normal sounds of Reeve's apartment building. I had grown used to them all.

 

The chirping and energetic sound of my phone ringing cut through the atmosphere and I hated myself for allowing Yuffie to set the tone. Transferring my cigarette to my other hand, I reached for the cell and flipped it open. A familiar name danced across the screen and I couldn't help but wonder why he would call so damn early in the morning.

 

“Highwind,” I greeted as I answered the call. “It seems rather early for you to be calling anyone, most especially myself.”

 

“Vin, goddammit, one day I'll get you to say my name,” Cid responded rather loudly, but even I could hear the exuberance in his tone. He was definitely excited about something.

 

Beside me, Reeve lifted a brow of amusement. He could hear Cid clearly, despite the fact he was coming through the phone.

 

“Is that what you called to say?” I returned mildly, finding it amusing to bait Highwind. He could be so predictable at times.

 

Cid swore under his breath, the phone crackling as he gripped it unnecessairly hard. “Not hardly, fucker.”

 

“You're rather crude today, captain.”

 

“Vince, shut up and let me speak,” Highwind insisted with his usual display of patience.

 

I obliged. “As you will.” Shrugging, though he couldn't see it, I brought my cigarette to my lips and took a deep drag. I relished in the brief burst of nicotine before it was gone again.

 

There was a moment of stunned silence. “... Are you smoking?” Highwind demanded, his smoker senses tingling. “Dammit, you bastard, you better not be for all the shit you talk at me.”

 

I ignored him. Highwind was amusing for a time but once he got sufficiently worked up, it was hard to calm him down again. I wanted to hear what he called about, not bait him forever.

 

“There was a reason you called,” I reminded him.

 

Cid grumbled under his breath for a good long moment, something about vampires and garlic, before finally speaking. “Don't deserve the good news,” he mumbled and explained, “Shera's pregnant.”

 

“Congratulations,” I respond, pleasantly surprised. I hadn't even known the Highwind's were trying. Perhaps Cloud's new spawn was inspiring a baby fever. “When is she due?”

 

I heard the rasp of Cid scratching his stubbled chin. “Well, she's seven weeks along so we're looking at September.”

 

A finger poked me in the shoulder and I shifted my eyes towards Reeve. “What is it?” he asked quietly.

 

Cid had lowered his volume significantly so the President hadn't been able to hear the happy news. I mouthed the answer to him so Cid wouldn't guess that I was within company. No one knew about Reeve and I yet and I wanted to keep it that way. I didn't want to hear the inevitable questions or squeals of joy on behalf of Tifa and Yuffie.

 

Amber eyes practically lit up in excitement. “That's great,” Reeve responded, looking several years younger.

 

The sight of his smile was pleasantly warming to something inside of me, and for a moment, I returned it before I realized what was happening. I hastily turned away and forced my attention back to Cid, who was still babbling in my ear. I interrupted whatever the captain was saying, something about baby showers and names, trying to ignore the strange niggle in my belly.

 

“I am happy for you, Highwind. Tell Shera I said so.”

 

“Whatever,” Cid grumbled, remarkably calmer than before. He was likely mollified by my actually expressing myself. “Just wanted to let ya know, Vince. Talk to ya later.”

 

The phone went dead before I could give a proper goodbye. I was not offended; it was simply Highwind's way. I let out a final breath of smoke and stubbed out my cigarette, closing my phone in the same moment and tossing it onto the beside table. It hit with a clatter and promptly slipped to the floor, hopefully under the bed where I wouldn't have any reception.

 

“He's rather energetic for it to be this early,” I remarked, more to myself than expecting any sort of response.

 

“Mmm.” Reeve was rather non-committal and on second glance, I realized that the happy sparkle he had been wielding had all but disappeared.

 

He was now staring at the wall as though it were of great interest, forehead furrowed in thought. I recognized that look. Memories of the past, an old pain that I likely knew nothing about.

 

I pulled myself up until I was leaning against the headboard, the sheets falling down to my waist and exposing my upper body to the chilly air of the room. Scars and all. I looked at my lover, recognizing this was one of the moments when I should probably speak.

 

“Reeve?”

 

There was a very long pause, one filled with all sorts of heavy emotions that make it hard for you to breathe. “I was married once, you know,” Reeve finally said, almost conversationally.

 

“No, I didn't.”

 

He nodded slowly, as though confirming the information for himself. “It was only a short marriage. When she found out I was infertile, it was the end for her. Apparently, adoption wasn't good enough.”

 

“How callous of her,” I answered, unable to ignore the slow burn of anger winding its way through me. Had love not even fit into the equation at all for the woman? Or had she only wanted his money?

 

“Mmm.” Amber eyes darkened with the old, remembered pain.

 

“Do you still want children?” I asked, more to fill the silence.

 

I didn't like the awkward atmosphere, the sense of ancient hurt that I had no clue how to heal. I didn't know the proper condolences to give and a part of me wanted to know why Reeve was sharing the information with me. Another part of me knew why, but didn't want to accept it.

 

Reeve looked at me, something unreadable in his gaze. “Is that a subtle way of asking if I'll leave you for a woman?”

 

“It was just a question, Tuesti. And before you ask, no, I won't be popping out any children for you no matter what Hojo did to me.”

 

The words soaked into the room before amusement finally trickled through the sorrow. His lips cracked into a grin and he laughed. “I knew that, Vincent. And for your information, I will not be seeking out a woman. I haven't time for children.”

 

“I thought so.” In that moment, I thought about another cigarette, my fingers twitching.

 

It wasn't so much that I wanted or craved one. But the topic of conversation was steering into uncomfortable territory, one that I wasn't quite prepared to face. It was heading towards talk of permanence, of feeligns, of things I didn't have answers for and feelings I wasn't sure I held.

 

“Do you want children?”

 

“And pass whatever is in my blood onto some unfortunate child?” I returned mildly, fingers twitching again.

 

The urge for flight flickered in my veins. I fought against it.

 

Reeve shifted on the bed, his eyes only briefly flickering towards the clock, likely gauging how much time he had left. “If you were able to safely, would you?”

 

I looked at him. “Does it really matter?”

 

Amber eyes met my gaze. “Do you even know that you're doing this?” he countered, and I knew what he meant.

 

“Doing what?” I half-lied, pretending ignorance and reaching for a cigarette, the pack half-hidden under the bed.

 

I really couldn't handle this conversation without some sort of distraction, though the action itself would give me away. Reeve knew I didn't smoke that much, probably once or twice a week when the mood struck me. Two in one day was unusual enough for him to take notice.

 

He watched me, brow furrowing as he noticed my odd actions but wise enough not to comment on it. “Shying away from all sorts of permanence.”

 

The lighter, stolen from Highwind when he wasn't looking, I was once a Turk after all, flickered to life. “I hadn't noticed.”

 

“Liar.”

 

Reeve moved to get up from the bed, rooting around for something to put on over his nudity. I watched as he settled for a pair of semi-clean boxers, not that it mattered since he was heading straight for the shower. He had to be at the office in less than a hour.

 

He ran a hand through his hair and I watched the muscles ripple in his back, still in good shape considering his age. Even the silvering of his hair didn't detract from his attractiveness, making him appear mature and distinguished. It often made me wonder if he didn't have a touch of mako in his blood, too.

 

“It's okay, you know,” Reeve stated quietly, turning to glance at me. “I didn't ask for love.”

 

I froze, hand midway to my lips at the sound of the word I had so carefully been avoiding. I swallowed thickly, blinking away my surprise, and completed the motion, using the drag of my cigarette to give me a moment to think.

 

I didn't know what to say, though I knew I had to say something. My gaze slid away to the walls of the bedroom, plain white and unadorned. There was a painting above the bed, I knew that much, something soft and simple. But in front of me was nothing but the shadows caused by the fan spinning above me. It was safe there in the cream-colored nothing, where his amber eyes weren't watching me.

 

I watched the cigarette flare orange before I settled for truth. “I don't have anything to give, Reeve.”

 

“Which is why I didn't ask,” he responded, and I could practically feel him smile in my direction, that same gentle smile that was still somehow full of the same steel that kept him alive and running the WRO.

 

His eyes found the clock again. “Eh? It's already twenty til? I've got to get moving.”

 

He headed towards the door, idly stretching out a kink in his upper shoulders. I couldn't let him go with just those words, however, a touch of guilt impressing itself on my heart. It reminded me that I had never spoke plainly to Lucrecia either.

 

“Reeve.”

 

I heard him pause, though I hadn't looked, his hand on the door frame. He looked at me, despite my care in not catching his eyes. I took another puff of the cigarette, mourning the flat taste in my mouth.

 

“I'll be here when you get home.”

 

It was the best I could offer him when he knew he couldn't have my heart. I was fond of him and he was important to me, but as for the burning drive of love, I simply couldn't feel it for another. It was impossible.

 

Men weren't meant to love men.

 

“That's good to know.” A finger tapped against the wood of the frame, a light series of raps. “I'll bring Wutaiian for dinner.”

 

And then he was out the door and I was crushing out my cigarette, waving away the last vestiges of grey smoke. I drew up one knee, resting my arm on it as I locked my gaze on the empty doorway.

 

I heard the shower start, the radio clicking on because for some reason, Reeve couldn't bathe in silence. In the kitchen, the coffee pot came to life with a gurgle thanks to its timer, filling the apartment with the scent of roasted java beans.

 

For a minute, the familiar noise sounded a bit like home. At least, as close to home as I had right now. And I let myself smile just a bit.

 

Maybe I would cook breakfast for Reeve.

 

It was far from perfect. It was no fairy tale ending. But for happiness, even for this short time, I was satisfied.

 

I imagined that even Lucrecia would smile at the sight. And that, in itself, was all I needed to know.

 

 

a/n: Whew! Another chapter out! Sorry it took so long! Hopefully, the next won't take as long.