Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Guardian ❯ Chapter 9

“Guardian”

Chapter 9

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*Disclaimer: The world that this story is set in and all characters therein 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.*

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Rude came over that night and Cloud was again uncomfortable and feeling slightly trapped. The bald man didn't say anything to him about his phone conversation with Reno that morning but Cloud felt his eyes on him. Reno sat down on the couch with the other Turk and the two of them each opened one of the beers he'd picked up with the groceries. Cloud considered leaving again when he grabbed a beer for himself and returned to the living room to join them. All three of the other men looked up at him as he walked in and Cloud had to choose between sitting on the couch with the two Turks or sitting on the loveseat with Rufus.

 

Fortunately, Rude seemed to be too interested in his partner to pay much attention to the blonde and he only gave Cloud a polite nod before asking Reno how he was holding up. Cloud sank gingerly down beside the redhead and he jumped a little when Reno reached out and squeezed his knee with familiar affection.

 

“I'm doing pretty good I guess,” Reno answered his partner, “I'll just be glad when more of my memories come back, yo. It makes me feel kind of detached, like I ain't a whole person or something.” He grimaced as he took his first swig of beer and he pulled the bottle away from his mouth and stared at it quizzically.

 

“What's wrong?” Rude asked.

 

“Tastes like a foot,” Reno muttered, smacking his lips.

 

“But that's your favorite brand,” Rude frowned, “or at least, it used to be.”

 

“I guess the Mako poisoning did a number on my taste buds, too.” Reno sighed heavily and shook his head. “Well, at least I still like sex as much as I used to.”

 

“Why don't you try my Vodka and cranberry juice instead?” Rufus offered. It had never been a favorite of Reno's before, but he reasoned that if his sense of taste was altered that might change. He got out of his seat and handed the drink to his subordinate for him to try.

 

Reno took a ginger sip and rolled the liquid around in his mouth. “See, that tastes pretty good,” he announced as he started to hand it back to Rufus.

 

The president shook his head. “You finish that one. I'll make myself another one.”

 

“Thanks, boss.” Reno sipped on the drink and waved his beer bottle back and forth between Cloud and Rude. “Any takers? I can't finish it.”

 

Cloud declined, choosing to limit his alcohol intake. It was going to take a while for him to feel comfortable around Rufus and the Turks—if he ever did. He had to be wary around Reno simply because he was so tricky, but with Rude and Rufus there too he couldn't relax. It had been different when Reno was catatonic, because the only goal any of them had was to take care of him. Now that he was relatively okay, priorities might shift.

 

Rude took the bottle and set it aside for when he finished the beer he was already drinking. “So has the doc given you any idea when you can come back to work?”

 

“Nah, everyone acts like I'll break or something,” answered the redhead. “He's holding off on that verdict for a while. I guess it makes sense with my memories all screwed up.”

 

Rude nodded and thought about it for a moment. “I've got an idea…why don't you come in with me tomorrow and we'll squeeze off a couple of rounds in the firing range? Maybe we could do a little sparring too and I'll show you your office.”

 

“I've got a private office?” Reno asked with surprise.

 

Rude shrugged. “Well yeah…you're second in command of the Turks, partner.”

 

Reno grinned. “Hmm, so you're under me then?”

 

Rude flushed a little and shrugged. “Don't get cocky.”

 

Reno laughed and winked at Cloud. “Hey Blondie, think I should take advantage?”

 

“Like you wouldn't if I said `no',” answered the fighter bluntly. Reno gave him a delighted, feral grin and the blonde averted his eyes and sipped his beer.

 

“So Rufus,” Reno said to the other blonde, “have you ever taken advantage of your status with any of us?”

 

The president nodded slowly and gave him a crooked, sexy smile. “There've never been any complaints.”

 

“Yo, I'll bet there haven't,” Reno said with a leer. ~I'll bet you've fucked me in your office at least a dozen times too, boss. Damn…I wish I could remember all this stuff. Who needs to watch porn when you've got a life like mine?~

 

Reno noticed that both Rude and Cloud were blushing and he clicked his tongue. “Aw, you're both bashful. Man, it doesn't take much with you two, does it? Don't worry Cloud…you're not a Turk so you're safe from office sexual harassment, yo.” He waggled his eyebrows at Rude, leaving little doubt that the same rule didn't apply to him.

 

“So do you want to go shooting and sparring with me tomorrow or what?” Rude grumbled.

 

“Oh yeah,” Reno agreed. “And don't forget the tour of my office at the end, yo.”

 

Cloud smirked with sympathy as Rude groaned and downed the rest of his beer. He never knew Rude was shy until now—probably because with the exception of the night Reno drugged everyone, he'd never been around Rude except when fighting against him or taking care of the redhead.

 

For the first time since Rude arrived, Cloud began to relax a little. His encounter with Reno and Rufus the evening before had come as a surprise and he wasn't ready to jump into anything with the other Turks…at least, not until he got to know them both a bit better. He wasn't unwilling to try for Reno's sake but the fact that he was even considering it came as a shock to him. It helped that Rude wasn't trying to push anything, even though Cloud sensed his eyes on him a lot.

 

“I'm going to have to go back home tonight,” Cloud announced suddenly when the news came on the television and he saw what day it was. He winced when Reno shot him an angry look. “Quit being greedy…I've got my first delivery in months and I can't afford to miss it.”

 

Reno sighed, realizing he was being a brat. “Fine…I guess I can't expect ya to let your business flop.” The trip from Junon to Edge wasn't far by helicopter, so he could fly him back by helicopter tonight and be back home before midnight. “Boss, are you and Rude gonna hang out here while I get him home?”

 

“I think that one of us should go with you,” Rufus suggested with a frown. “I don't want you flying alone until you've gotten the hang of it again.”

 

“Why don't you both come then?” Cloud said impulsively. He raised an eyebrow with surprise. He hadn't expected to hear himself say that. He would have expected to prefer just Rude going with, considering how new and fragile his situation with Rufus was.

 

“Red's not gonna crash us, is he?” Rude asked, only half-joking.

 

“Hey, we made it here okay didn't we?” Reno huffed.

 

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

 

Reno thought about his feelings of dependence on Cloud and the others as he flew the chopper toward Edge. The blonde fighter was strapped into the front passenger seat next to him and Rufus and Rude were seated in the back. For all his bluster and jokes, the redhead was feeling insecure and anxious. He'd woken up sometime after Cloud and Rufus fell asleep last night, coming out of a nightmare of struggling in the Mako and feeling the burn as it seeped into his pores. He'd snuck out of the bed and gone to the bathroom to wash his face and regain control of himself, without either of his blonde companions being the wiser.

 

~I guess it's just gonna be this way for a while,~ He reasoned as he glanced sidelong at Cloud. ~I just don't want to be alone and they make me feel safe, yo. I'll bet I was never such a wimp before this shit happened, though. I'll bet they never hung out at my place as much as they are now, too. Now that I think of it, I haven't been alone since I woke up. Someone's always there, yo.~

 

Reno started to descend outside of Edge, reluctant to let Cloud go but knowing he couldn't keep him from his business or his family. The Turk didn't really resent Tifa and the kids because he knew Cloud's relationship with her was strictly platonic, and it wasn't Denzel and Marlene's fault that they were orphans. He'd just have to settle for what he could get from Cloud, instead of pining that the guy wasn't more accessible.

 

“Okay Blondie,” Reno sighed as he touched down a little roughly. “See? I'm already doing better with the flying.”

 

“Yeah, you'll get your skills back with a little practice,” Cloud answered encouragingly. He stared at Reno with soft blue eyes for a moment, contemplating. Finally he shrugged and muttered: “what the hell,” before reaching out to cup the back of the Turk's head and draw his lips to his.

 

Reno smiled against the fighter's mouth and returned the kiss. “So you're gonna give me a call when you finish your delivery, right?” Reno insisted when they broke the kiss.

 

“I'll call you,” Cloud promised. “Maybe on the weekend I can come visit again.”

 

“Lookin' forward to it,” agreed Reno sincerely.

 

Cloud unbuckled his safety belt and grabbed his small duffle bag with his extra clothes and one of his smaller swords in it. He was just about to open the door and exit the chopper when Rufus suddenly snuck up behind him. He hadn't seen the president unbuckle his seat belt or move and Cloud jumped in reaction to the feel of the other man's fingers sliding into his hair.

 

“I'm going to quote you, Cloud,” Rufus murmured with a faint smirk as he leaned over him and drew his head back. “'Unclench'.” His lips pressed against his and Cloud went still with surprise for a moment before hesitantly returning the kiss.

 

~He's one persistent bastard, I've got to give him that.~

 

Cloud was a little breathless when the president broke the kiss. “Uh…yeah. So, see you later!” He grabbed his duffle bag and opened the door while Rufus maneuvered himself to take his place in the front passenger seat. The last thing Cloud saw before he turned to hop out of the craft was Rude's expression, which almost made him laugh. The bald man's eyebrows were raised and his mouth was open. Clearly, the idea of he and Rufus being intimate was just as hard for Rude to fathom as it was for Cloud. Just as he was hopping out, Cloud felt a hand smack him on the ass and he yelped and stumbled outside the craft.

 

“Hey!” Cloud snapped, glaring over his shoulder at Rufus. The president gave him a smug, satisfied grin and shut the chopper door. He saw Reno wave at him from the pilot's seat and he sighed before turning around to walk into the city. “Man, I really opened a can of fucking worms last night,” he muttered to himself as the chopper slowly lifted off the ground again. “I think I'm doomed.”

 

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

 

The next morning, Reno went with Rude and Rufus to work. Or rather, they traveled in the same car and Rufus went his separate way once they were in the office building. Rude was immensely curious about what happened the night Rufus and Cloud took Reno home but he was too disciplined and reserved to ask his partner questions. He'd really thought that Reno had just convinced the boss and Strife to go along with a little prank when he'd sent the photo of the three of them in bed together. After watching Rufus lay that kiss on Cloud and swat him on the ass last night, he revised his opinion and he really wanted to know how they managed to get Strife's cooperation. .

 

Deciding that he could ask him about it later, Rude concentrated on getting Reno back into a more normal routine The first thing he did was take the redhead to the cafeteria for some breakfast. They ran into Elena there and she took a seat at the table and ate with them.

 

“So are you back now?” the blonde woman asked eagerly as she studied Reno. She was a little tickled that both Rude and Reno were wearing shades now. She knew that Rude had light-sensitive eyes but she hadn't been around during any of the times Reno opened his eyes or since he woke up. She'd heard that the Mako poisoning gave him the same glow as SOLDIER eyes and she was curious.

 

Reno noticed her barely concealed curiosity and he shrugged and pulled his shades down a little, peering over them at her. He chuckled as the blonde woman gasped and dropped her jaw. “Don't flip out, yo. I know they look funny but they're still just eyeballs.”

 

“I just didn't expect them to be so bright!” Elena replied. “I mean, I've seen the Soldier eyes do that but…wow!” She studied him for a moment and shrugged. “It's kind of pretty, once you get used to it.”

 

He replaced the shades and shrugged. “If you say so. Anyway, I'm not back yet. They ain't letting me come back until I've recovered more. Rude's just showing me around and taking me shooting today. Hell, maybe it'll jog my memory more, who knows?”

 

“Hope so,” Elena said with a sympathetic look.

 

They finished their breakfast and Elena joined the two of them in the indoor firing range. Tseng was there when they arrived, which was a pleasant surprise to Reno. He hadn't visited with the Wutaian since the day he woke up and he really enjoyed his calm, soothing voice and velvety black eyes. The Turk Director smiled at Reno when he saw him coming in with Rude and Elena.

 

“It's a pleasure to see you up and about so soon, Reno,” He studied the redhead for a moment and nodded with satisfaction at his coloring and poise. “You look well. I trust you're having a bit of practice, today?”

 

“Yeah,” Reno grinned as his partner handed him a pair of noise muffling headphones. “I didn't expect to see so many of my posse down here this morning.”

 

“I picked today because I knew it was one of the days Tseng comes down to shoot,” Rude said. “Thought you'd like to see him again when he's not bogged down with work.”

 

“Busy, huh?” Reno frowned. “I guess that's sort of my fault, yo.”

 

Tseng cocked his head to the side. “Your fault? Why, because you're still on sabbatical?” The Wutaian put his hands on Reno's shoulders and squeezed gently. “I can handle the extra work until you're in the condition to return. In the meantime, just enjoy your time off and take care of yourself.”

 

Tseng paused when he spotted a metallic flash under Reno's open collar. He smiled softly and reached in to lift the Yen Yang pendant that the redhead was wearing around his neck. “You've kept it, I see.”

 

It took Reno a second to realize that Tseng must have given the pendant to him when he was sick. He felt the oddest attack of shyness as the Wutaian's fingers brushed against his collarbone and he shrugged and lowered his eyes. “So you gave this to me, huh?”

 

“I did,” Tseng confirmed with a nod. He released the pendant and straightened the other man's collar. “It made me feel…like I was somehow there for you even when I couldn't be.” The sensitive mouth frowned and Reno remembered how Tseng had cried when he woke up.

 

“Thanks, man,” the redhead said with a little smile. “I think it helped, yo.”

 

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

 

Rude couldn't resist being a little intimate with his partner when they finished selecting their firearms and setting up for the session. He knew that Reno would instinctively understand how to operate his gun but he went into his booth for a moment and stepped up behind him. His assumption that the redhead wouldn't mind him putting his arms around him and guiding his hands was correct.

 

“Is this familiar to you?” Rude murmured against the smaller man's cheek.

 

Reno was a little surprised that he was able to hear his partner through the headphones. He grinned and nodded, pressing back against the bald man's tall form with covert affection. Rude clicked off the safety and took advantage of the relative privacy of the booth. He nuzzled the redhead's neck and he smiled when Reno shivered in response.

 

“Squeeze the trigger, don't pull it,” Rude said as he forced himself to end the contact and back off.

 

Reno shot a look over his shoulder at the taller man and gave him a suggestive grin. “Squeeze it, huh?”

 

Rude smiled at him and crossed his arms over his chest with a nod. “That's it. How's the target distance—want me to bring it in a little closer?”

 

Reno peered at the bulls-eye far down the track and shrugged. “Seems fine, yo.” He lifted his pistol and took aim, firing one neat shot before tilting his head and grinning as inspiration struck him. He followed up with several more shots and Rude gaped at him, impressed by how quickly and confidently he fired the weapon. Whether he managed to be accurate or not was yet to be seen, though. He pulled on the switch and brought the target in.

 

“What the hell?” Rude muttered when the sliding target was close enough for him to see the bullet holes. “Holy shit! Tseng, Elena, you've got to see this!” He abruptly reached out and yanked the cardboard bulls-eye off of its clip, leaving Reno staring after him with a puzzled frown on his face.

 

“What's the matter?” Tseng shouted as he poked his head out of his own booth. Elena likewise leaned out of the booth besides his to stare at the uncommonly excited bald man.

 

“Look at what he did,” Rude answered as he stopped outside of Tseng's booth and shoved the target in his face.

 

Tseng's dark eyes scanned the bulls-eye incredulously and he shared a look with Elena and raised an elegant brow. Reno came around from his own booth and looked at them with a combination of irritation and confusion.

 

“What?” The redhead asked.

 

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

 

Rufus was considerably startled when Tseng came into his office—not because it was unusual but because the Wutaian jogged across the floor with an excited expression on his face. The president put aside his paperwork and stood up, concerned for his lover. He didn't get the chance to ask him why he had such an odd expression on his face. Tseng slapped a cardboard bulls-eye on top of Rufus's desk and nodded at it insistently.

 

“Sir, I really think you should consider talking to the doctor about allowing Reno to come back to work early.”

 

Rufus looked down at the target and picked it up, holding it up to the light. He frowned in confusion as he saw the pattern of the bullet holes. “Is this…did he shoot the ShinRa logo into this bulls-eye?” Rufus's gray eyes were mystified as he turned the target in his hand and admired the perfect spacing and symmetry of the peppered holes. There was no mistaking it—Reno had literally drawn the diamond logo with his bullets.

 

“How far away was the target when he did this?” Rufus inquired, his eyes meeting Tseng's.

 

“It was at the end of the track,” answered the Wutaian succulently.

 

Rufus stared at him in disbelief.

 

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

 

“Why is everyone freaking out over it?” Reno sipped the cocktail Rude bought for him in the company lounge and shrugged. “I mean, wasn't I a good shot before?”

 

“You weren't a suck shot,” Rude answered, “but I don't even think President Shinra could have been so accurate and he's the best shot I've ever met…except maybe for Valentine.”

 

“Okay, so my vision and aim is better,” Reno shrugged. “Big deal! I already feel like a freak show without you guys flippin' out over a few bullet-holes, yo.”

 

Rude took his glasses off, then Reno's, and looked him in the eye. “You don't get it partner, it wasn't just good, it was amazing. You haven't even been out of your coma for a week yet and you've got full use of your body. Do you know how unusual that is? You should be in rehab but you're bouncing around like nothing happened. We just want to know what's going on with you, that's all.”

 

Reno swallowed a hefty gulp of his drink and snagged his shades back from his partner, fitting them over his eyes hastily. “So what's your theory, man? You think I'm turning into some kind of mutant?”

 

“No,” Rude said firmly. “I think that dunk in the Mako gave you a few enhancements, like the members of SOLDIER. Look at Strife…he's had Mako poisoning twice and he fights like a bat out of hell. He even said you might have sharper senses when you woke up.”

 

The bald man's phone rang and he pulled it out and put it to his ear. “Rude speaking. Yes Sir. Right away.” He hung up and frowned at Reno. “Finish your drink, partner. Rufus sent for the doc and he wants you checked out right away.”

 

“Great,” Reno groaned.

 

“Don't look so down, Red,” Rude said seriously. “This could lead to you coming back to work sooner than you thought. That's what you want, isn't it?”

 

Reno brightened a little. “Yeah, that's what I want, yo.”

 

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

 

Two hours later, Reno was exercising in the gym. Dr. Keller was there, observing while the redhead punched and kicked at a six-foot punching bag, with Rude holding it steady for him. Rufus put his work on hold to observe as well and ask questions.

 

“Do you think he should be brought into the lab for testing?” the president murmured.

 

“In ordinary cases of Mako enhancement, I would say yes,” the doctor replied, “but Reno's infusion wasn't a controlled process and while we've developed an inhibitor, its usefulness seems to be limited to the treatment of the catatonic state. I think what would be best for him now is to monitor his vitals and see what he can do. If he's not suffering any pain or illness then I don't see the point in medicating him.”

 

Rufus nodded. “I assume he shouldn't be left alone. You mentioned mental trauma once.”

 

“Yes, that's my biggest concern,” Dr. Keller agreed. “His experience was probably terrifying enough, without the added condition of his memory loss. He clearly wants to return to work and I don't blame him, but I'm not convinced he's ready.”

 

Reno heard the whole conversation and his anger spiked when Keller refused to agree to change his mind about his job. The redhead launched a violent kick at the punching bag and he heard his partner grunt, just before the chain connecting the bag to its brace snapped. Rude went down and the bag landed on top of him.

 

“Oops,” Reno yelped as Rude groaned and struggled to lift the heavy bag off of his body. “Shit, I'm sorry man. You okay?” He rolled the bag aside with effort and helped the bald man to his feet. Rufus and the doctor were staring and he flushed and straightened Rude's glasses on his head.

 

“What if he returns under the stipulation that he works with his partner at all times?” Rufus suggested with a grimace. “Somehow I don't think forcing him to be idle is any better for him than overdoing things.”

 

Rude cleared his throat and brushed his suit off, while Reno lifted his shades and crossed his arms over his chest. The redheaded Turk took full advantage of the Mako effect in his eyes and glared at the doctor expectantly.

 

Keller wasn't a man to back down easily but he wasn't a fool, either. “I can agree to that,” he said slowly, “on a trial basis. I'd like to do some testing as well—nothing strenuous, I just want to do blood tests and chemical counts. Reno, would that satisfy you?”

 

“I can live with that,” agreed the redhead. He wasn't sure if he'd just hit the punching bag right to make it break free of the chain or if he was stronger. Truthfully, he didn't feel exceptionally strong. He thought Rude could still easily win an arm-wrestling match with him. If there was improvement in his abilities it was in his dexterity, vision and speed—along with an understanding of leverage and gravity that he guessed he probably didn't possess before. He told the doctor as much before Keller left.

 

“Mako enhancements tend to magnify pre-existing attributes in the subject,” Keller explained. “It makes perfect sense to me. According to your boss and coworkers, you were already fast and limber before this happened. We'll need to determine if these changes are permanent or temporary and you'll need adjustment time, regardless of whether they are or not.”

 

“As long as I'm not treated like a baby or stuck at home, I'll cooperate with ya,” Reno shrugged.

 

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

 

That night, Rude stayed with him. Reno apologized to him again for knocking him down and the bald man shrugged stoically and assured him he was fine. They stopped at a service station on the way back to Reno's apartment and Rude bought him a pack of cinnamon flavored gum.

 

“It used to be your favorite,” the taller man explained when Reno looked at him questioningly.

 

The redhead cautiously opened the pack and unwrapped a stick of the gum; wary since the last beer he'd tried nearly made him upchuck. He put it in his mouth and chewed slowly. His expression lit up and he looked at his companion with a grin. “Yup, still like it. Thanks.”

 

Rude gave him one of his quiet smiles and started the car. “I missed that smile, Red.”

 

“I'm pretty sure I missed yours too, partner.” Reno guilelessly scooted closer and rested his head on the bald man's shoulder. Rude put an arm around him and nuzzled his vivid hair.

 

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

 

That night, Reno had another nightmare and this time, he didn't wake in time to get out of bed before the screaming began. He flailed in the darkness, trying to stay surfaced, fighting against the current of the thick liquid that pulled his body further and further away from everyone and everything he cared about.

 

“Reno, wake up!”

 

Strong arms held him tightly and he felt the tickle of Rude's facial whiskers against his skin. He opened disoriented eyes and shuddered, hearing his own ragged screams dying in his ears. “Rude,” gasped the redhead desperately, clinging to the warm, brown body pressed against his. “Fuck…don't go anywhere!”

 

“Shhh, I'm not moving, baby. You're okay.” Rude's calloused hands rubbed his back and his lips caressed his face. “You're safe at home now, Red. Just let it out.”

 

Reno didn't want to “let it out”. He worked with Rude and he didn't want the man to see him so weak. A flash of memory came to him then and he remembered his mother. Reno went still and his eyes widened as he vividly recalled Lena Flynn's death and Cloud Strife showing up to be with him.

 

“Oh god,” Reno moaned, the tremors starting up again as his emotions boiled to the surface. He'd been putting off going through his photo albums because he knew there was someone really important he couldn't remember and he was afraid. Now he knew why. He'd forgotten is own mother!

 

“It's okay, man,” Rude soothed as Reno trembled violently in his arms. “You'll hurt yourself if you just hold it all in. Hell, if I can cry in front of Strife and Lockheart, you can cry in front of me.”

 

The soft encouragement confirmed Reno's suspicions that he'd always refused comfort from his own coworkers, but he couldn't hold it in anymore. Sharp, tearing sobs shook his body and he pressed his face against Rude's chest and muffled them as best as he could.

 

“How could I forget her?” Reno sobbed; feeling like his heart was shattering.

 

Rude knew immediately whom he was referring to and he held him more tightly. “It's not your fault, partner. You can't push yourself and you can't blame yourself for what you can't help.” It was easier to say it than do it, he knew. He'd silently apologized himself to Mrs. Flynn's spirit for failing to get to Reno before he fell into the Mako.

 

Reno cried against his chest for a good long while, letting out his trauma and pain even though he didn't want to. Rude kept stroking his back and his hair while he murmured softly to him and kissed him. After a while, Reno's sobs finally slowed to sniffles and when he'd calmed enough, Rude released him long enough to go to the bathroom and get a damp washcloth to clean his face. When he came back, he was a little unsettled by the way Reno's glowing eyes were all he could see of him in the darkness. Rude carefully got back into bed with him and turned on the lamp.

 

“Don't look like that,” the bald man said as he wiped the drying tears off of his partner's face. “There's not a damned thing for you to be embarrassed about, Red.” He ignored the faint greenish tint of Reno's tears and pressed a soft kiss against his trembling lips. “If I was as close to my Mom as you were, I'd be just as upset. You remember her now though, right?”

 

Reno nodded and swallowed, closing his glittering eyes and sighing with exhaustion. His fair features were blushing lightly with humiliation and Rude smiled at him and shook his head. “Like I said, don't be embarrassed. Turks still love, man.”

 

“Yeah,” Reno agreed in a hoarse whisper as he opened his eyes again to regard his partner. “I guess we do, don't we?”

 

Rude put the washcloth on the nightstand and drew Reno into his embrace, running his free hand gently over his arm and side as the redhead cuddled against him. After a while, Reno's deep, easy breathing told him he was asleep. Rude kissed his partner's forehead and reached out to shut off the lamp, sighing into the darkness.

 

~Wish I could take it all for you, Red. All I can do is be here though.~

 

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

 

-To be continued