Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Guardian ❯ Chapter 22

“Guardian”

Chapter 22

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*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 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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When they returned to Junon, Cloud and Reno got back to training and the fighter's suspicions that the Mako was fading a little from his lover's system grew. Reno's senses and fighting abilities were still enhanced but after another week, the glow in his eyes had visibly dimmed. The redhead couldn't disguise his relief at that as he began to notice it too. He was able to look at himself in the mirror again without cringing at the unnatural brightness of his irises.

 

He kept having his checkups and the doctor announced that his body had stabilized the Mako. He couldn't say whether it would ever be completely expelled but he agreed that Reno's recovery was satisfying enough for him to return to work. Tseng put the redhead back on active duty, starting him out light at first to ease him into it.

 

Rufus was quite pleased with the progress and relieved that Reno's life was straightening out again. The one thing that troubled the president that he would never allow himself to admit aloud was that Strife would be leaving soon. He'd done what he'd set out to do and he had his own life and business to take care of. It was unreasonable for that to disturb Rufus and he knew it. He stood at his office window one afternoon, staring blankly at the view without truly seeing it.

 

~If it's troubling me this much, surely it's making Reno miserable. How foolish. It isn't as though we'll never see Strife again—just not as often. Why does this bother me so much?~

 

If he were more honest with himself, he might have recognized his own feelings for what they were and he might have chosen to nurture them, rather than fight them. It had been easier to admit his feelings for his Turk lovers—especially Reno. They belonged to him after all, even if the redhead couldn't be completely tamed. Cloud was another matter. He would never belong to Rufus in any real sense of the word and because of the way the president had grown up and lived his life, he simply didn't know how to let himself care too much for someone he couldn't practice some control over.

 

At least, that's what he told himself. The problem was that while he knew he couldn't let himself fall for Strife, nor could he bury his feelings. Rufus sighed and went to his liquor cabinet to pour a drink. His frustration grew and he told himself that the sooner Cloud left, the better off he was. Obsession was fine but love was dangerous.

 

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“Do you think Rufus is acting a little off?” Cloud asked Reno one day during a sparring session.

 

The redhead blocked Cloud's attack and considered the question. “How do ya mean?” He grunted with exertion as he kicked at the blonde.

 

Cloud dodged aside in the nick of time, distracted by his concerns over Rufus's behavior. “I mean he's acting more like he did before all of this happened,” he tried to explain. He rolled and came up behind his lover, catching him in a tight hold around the waist and chest. The warmth that he'd thought was growing between him and the president had chilled and it confused and frustrated him. “Just when I was starting to like the bastard, too,” Cloud grumbled.

 

Reno suddenly flipped the blonde over his back and to the floor. Cloud's breath expelled painfully and he groaned before he could stop himself. Reno straddled him before he could recover and he smirked down at the fighter as he pinned him to the mat.

 

“You really are worried about it, aren't ya?” observed the Turk. “I've been getting past your guard all morning.”

 

Cloud heaved a sigh. “I just don't understand him. One minute he's doing all he can to warm me up to him and the next he's turning on the ice. Does he do that with you guys or am I just lucky?”

 

Reno sat comfortably on top of him and straightened up, frowning as he thought over it. He'd noticed his boss's attitude toward Strife changing too and he thought he knew why. “He's too attached to you,” he reasoned. “I'll bet ya money that's why he's giving you the cold shoulder.”

 

“Hey, I wasn't exactly thrilled about warming up to him either but I didn't turn into an asshole about it,” grumbled Cloud.

 

“No?” Reno smirked. “What about you calling him up to snap at him and hang up on him? You don't think that was acting like an asshole?”

 

Cloud flushed and averted his eyes. “I thought he was trying to domesticate me,” he muttered. “I apologized for it too.”

 

“Maybe you should talk to him,” Reno suggested. “The boss ain't good at dealing with emotions…he never has been. You're gonna leave us soon and I'll bet it bothers him.” Reno frowned and looked away, his expression revealing that it bothered him too.

 

Cloud's eyes softened and he rested his hands on Reno's thighs. “You know I can't stay here forever,” he said.

 

The Turk sighed. “Yeah, I know. Doesn't make it any easier though.” He eased off of Cloud and offered a hand to help him up. “You should talk to him, man.”

 

Cloud took the proffered hand and stood up. He shook his head. “You know I suck at talking to people. I think I should just let him be for now. If he can't deal with his feelings then I'd just make it worse if I tried to talk about it with him. Besides that, I don't want to come off like I'm begging him or something. I'm starting to think it was all just an act for him, to get me to cooperate.”

 

Reno rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You two are a handful, you know that?”

 

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“Hey boss, can I talk to ya for a minute or three?”

 

Rufus stopped reading the reports he was going over and looked up at the fiery head poking into his office door. “I suppose I can spare a few minutes,” he said with a subtle smile as he motioned for Reno to come in. “What's on your mind, Reno?”

 

The redhead entered the office and closed the door behind him. He approached the desk and boldly half-sat on the edge of it, looking down at his superior with contemplative blue-green eyes. Rufus admired those eyes silently as he waited for Reno to speak. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed the natural color until the Mako glow began to fade from them.

 

“You don't have to keep Strife at arm's length, sir. It's a little late for you to act like he doesn't mean anything to ya.” Reno's gaze was steady and unblinking on him.

 

Rufus frowned and put his paperwork aside. “Strife doesn't mean anything to me, Reno. He's not a member of this organization and while I've enjoyed the encounters I've had with him, I'm not foolish enough to believe there can be anything deeper between us. You needn't worry, though…I have no problem with your continuing relationship with him if that's what concerns you. There's no need for you to push for more between he and I than what we have.”

 

Reno stared at the president incredulously. “You can't be serious. I saw it, man…he's not just a fuck to you! Why the hell are you doing this? You said yourself that you liked him! You're the one that convinced me to patch things up!”

 

“I did that for your good,” Rufus countered calmly. “And yes, I like him well enough. If I didn't then I wouldn't approve of your relationship with him. That's all I can give, Reno. Your outbursts won't change that and I have too much work to do to concern myself over your fantasies about Strife and I having something meaningful together.”

 

Reno sputtered and snapped his mouth shut. His eyes flashed with frustration as he stood up. “You're scared,” he accused when he gathered his wits enough to speak.

 

“No, I'm practical,” corrected Rufus coolly. “I doubt that Strife is all broken up about that. Just enjoy your relationship with him, Reno. Perhaps one day you'll understand my position.”

 

“I doubt that, baby,” Reno sighed in defeat. “But I can't force ya to admit how you feel.”

 

“I don't—” Rufus began with a touch of annoyance.

 

“Yeah, yeah,” Reno snorted, “Whatever, boss. Maybe once he's gone and you don't see him every day you'll figure it out.”

 

“I don't like your impudent tone,” Rufus said in a low, dangerous voice.

 

“Well I don't like you lying to yourself, so we're even,” the Turk shot back. He retreated angrily and if he had looked back and seen his lover's expression, he would have realized he'd scored a minor victory.

 

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“Hey, where'd you go?” Cloud asked as Reno stalked into his office. The Turk had told him he had something to take care of after they had lunch but he didn't explain what. The sour expression on the redhead's face hinted that things hadn't gone his way.

 

“Nothing,” Reno said shortly as he plopped down on his chair behind his desk.

 

Cloud's eyebrows furrowed. “Uh…okay. Look, I know you're not happy that I'm leaving tonight but—”

 

“That ain't it,” Reno interrupted. He shook his head. “Well, that ain't all of it. I'm just kind of moody right now. So, have you got your stuff packed up?”

 

“Yeah,” Cloud said hesitantly. He wondered what he did wrong this time. “Reno, would you look at me?”

 

The tourmaline eyes obediently gazed into his and he saw the frustration in them. Cloud sighed and closed the distance between them, leaning over the Turk's chair to gaze at him levelly. “I can handle Rufus freezing me out,” he murmured, “but not you. If you're pissed off at me I wish you'd tell me.”

 

“Fuck Rufus,” Reno grumbled.

 

Cloud's eyes went wide and his lips rounded into a little “O” of shock. “So that's where you went,” he reasoned. “What did he do to make you so mad?”

 

Reno sighed and shrugged, lowering his gaze. “He's just being a stubborn, stupid, arrogant, practical dumbass and I'm fed up with it.”

 

Cloud bit his lip at the tirade, almost smiling despite his confusion. “I think I know what's going on,” he said softly.

 

“Yeah?” Reno challenged. “So tell me.”

 

“You talked to him about the way he's been acting lately,” Cloud said matter-of-factly. “You didn't like his response and now you're mad at him. Reno, he and I just don't fit and I don't want your relationship with him taking a hit because of that, okay? It never got the chance to turn into something I'd really miss, so don't get worked up.”

 

Reno narrowed his eyes at him. “You're BOTH fucking idiots!”

 

Cloud recoiled at the frustrated howl, helpless to think of something to say that would pacify the redhead. “Should have kept my mouth shut,” he muttered. “I never say anything right.”

 

Reno's anger faded and he felt guilty. “Nah, it's not what you said,” he assured, “It's just…ah, forget it. Maybe this time I just need to kick back and see what happens, yo.”

 

Cloud's look of utter confusion made the Turk smile. “Sorry I snapped at ya, Blondie. I don't want you going home thinking I'm mad at you, `cause I'm not.”

 

“If you say so,” Cloud sighed.

 

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That evening they loaded Fenrir into Reno's chopper and got ready to leave. In his musings concerning Rufus and what the president said or did to make Reno angry, Cloud remembered something that he'd told himself to check for before he went home.

 

“Can I borrow your cellphone to make a call before we take off?” Cloud asked his lover. “Mine's out of juice.”

 

Reno dutifully produced his phone from his blazer and handed it over. Cloud flipped it open and instead of dialing, he searched through Reno's media folder.

 

“What are you doing?” Reno asked as he tried to snatch the phone from the blonde.

 

Cloud leaned away from the Turk and kept the phone out of his reach as he browsed through the photos stored on the device. He came across one of them and he sighed and gave Reno an exasperated look.

 

“What?” Reno said, blinking innocently at him.

 

Cloud held the phone up and raised his eyebrows, displaying the snapshot of him lying naked in bed with a collared and leashed Rufus Shinra. Instead of speaking, he shook his head sternly and prepared to delete the picture.

 

“HEY, DON'T DO THAT!” Reno's exclamation was so desperate that Cloud paused and looked at him with a frown. “I mean,” continued the Turk when he realized he'd shouted hysterically, “What's the harm, man? It's just a little memorabilia. You've gotta admit you two looked hot together, Blondie.”

 

“Reno,” Cloud started, uncomfortable with the idea of anyone wandering around with a nude picture of him.

 

“No, come on, baby…don't delete it,” Reno pleaded, “I promise, it's just for my personal viewing okay? I'm gonna miss you and we're not going to see as much of each other after I drop you off. Can't ya just let me enjoy having a nice picture of my two favorite blondes together?”

 

“If this ends up on the internet—” warned Cloud with a wavering sigh.

 

“It won't,” Reno promised. “It won't! I'll swear it in blood right now if ya want me to.”

 

Cloud felt a lump form in his throat in response to the pained expression on Reno's face. The picture obviously really did mean more to the redhead than a cheap thrill. “Okay,” the blonde said with a nod, “but you've got to let me take a picture of you too.”

 

Reno visibly relaxed. “You've got a deal, Strife. Where do you wanna snap it and how do ya want me?”

 

Cloud felt his face heat even as his body reacted to the implications of the Turk's words. “I saw an outfit in a shop window here I want you to wear,” he said. “Let's go pick it up before we leave.”

 

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Reno honestly didn't know what to expect when Cloud took him to the shop he'd mentioned. At first he was thinking of something really kinky like a leather harness or something but he dismissed the idea immediately when he considered the fighter's more vanilla tastes. When they walked in and Cloud picked the ensemble out and handed it to him with an expectant look in his eye, Reno smirked.

 

“Not bad, Blondie. I'm not usually a hat guy but we'll see how it goes.” Reno took off his goggles and handed them to his lover before taking the outfit in the back to the changing rooms to try it on. Cloud followed him and waited outside the booth while he removed his Turk uniform and started putting the ensemble on.

 

“You didn't pick out a shirt to go with this, man,” Reno said through the curtain.

 

“Doesn't need one,” Cloud answered. He crossed his arms over his chest and imagined what Reno would look like when he came out of the dressing room. “Oh yeah, take your hair out of that ponytail while you're at it,” he demanded.

 

“Yessir,” Reno chuckled. The redhead whistled softly as he changed, evidently enjoying the unexpected dress-up session. “Okay, are ya ready for me now?”

 

“I'm ready,” Cloud said. He stepped back so that he could have a full view.

 

Reno pushed the curtains aside and stepped out, his eyes twinkling with fun and a sensual smile on his lips. “So, how do I look?”

 

Cloud stared speechlessly at him. “Uh…” He reached up and wiped absently at his mouth, just in case he was drooling.

 

“That ain't very helpful, Blondie,” Reno said with a mock frown. “Do ya like it or not?”

 

Instead of answering verbally, Cloud looked around to make sure nobody was watching and he grabbed Reno and pulled him into the dressing booth. He closed the curtains behind them and pressed the Turk against the full-length mirror before claiming his lips in an urgent kiss. Reno chuckled into his mouth and squeezed his ass, happy with the response.

 

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Cloud pried himself off of Reno with effort, forcing his arousal down enough to pay for the outfit and get back to the helicopter. As soon as they were in the air, he told Reno to put the autopilot on and pulled the Turk into his lap. Before long he had Reno's new pants off and his own jeans yanked down. It didn't take much effort to convince the redhead to ride him and they coupled frantically, unmindful that they were thousands of feet in the sky.

 

When they touched down outside Edge, they kissed for several minutes before reluctantly pulling away from one another so that Cloud could get Fenrir from the cargo hold and go. Before he did that, he took several pictures of Reno in the new outfit he'd bought for him. It was expensive but the look was such sheer perfection on the redhead that it was worth every gil to the fighter.

 

“Why don't you wear it for Rufus when you get back?” Cloud suggested with a slow, admiring scan of the Turk's body as he straddled his bike. “If there's something you're trying to convince him to do, he'll have a harder time resisting with you wearing that.”

 

Reno smiled slowly at the blonde. “So you're not ready to give up just yet, eh?”

 

Cloud shrugged. “You know him better than I do. I'll play it by ear and if you think there's something there, I won't shove him away, that's all.”

 

“Gotcha,” Reno nodded. He gave the fighter one last, lingering glance and sighed. “I'll call ya when I get back to Junon. Take care of yourself, Goldilocks.”

 

“Same to you,” Cloud smiled. He started Fenrir up and drove away, regretful that he couldn't stay with Reno but content with the knowledge that they could arrange to visit each other whenever they liked.

 

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Rufus was just getting ready to call it a day and lock up when his office door opened. He looked up from the laptop computer he'd just been closing and it took his brain a moment to register what he was seeing.

 

“Reno?” He didn't recognize his own voice.

 

Reno was wearing a black fedora hat and his fiery locks spilled loose around his shoulders and down his back. His long-muscled legs were encased in dark brown dress pants. He wore a matching brown two-button blazer that opened in a V and exposed his chest and torso to the navel. He wore no shirt underneath the jacket and a pair of black suede shoes completed the outfit.

 

“Dear gods,” Rufus murmured stupidly as his subordinate crossed the room and circled his desk.

 

“You like it?” Reno asked with a crooked smile. “I think the hat makes me look like a pimp, but Cloud didn't seem to think so. What do ya think about how he dressed me up, boss?”

 

Rufus swallowed. “Strife picked this out for you?”

 

“Mmm-hmm,” Reno nodded. He squeezed in and leaned against the edge of Rufus's desk, looking him in the eye as he waited for his opinion.

 

“Well, Cloud has a surprisingly great eye for picking out fashion for you,” Rufus said with passionate sincerity. His trousers were already tenting severely at the crotch and he started to reach out for the redhead, only to have Reno pull away.

 

“Nuh-uh,” Reno purred. “No touching…not yet, anyhow. First I want ya to come clean with me, boss.”

 

“About?” Rufus prompted, his gray eyes helplessly roving over the sinfully gorgeous creature that tempted him.

 

Reno reached up and began unbuttoning the blonde's suite. His fingers skimmed teasingly over Rufus's throat and he smiled when the man's gray eyes blazed with smoky passion. “Were you just using my boy Cloud, or was that heat between the two of you real?”

 

Rufus pressed his lips together and struggled inwardly. “Why is this so important to you, Reno?”

 

“'Cause you're important to me, and so is he,” the redhead answered without hesitation. He leaned in and nuzzled the president's throat with his lips, making him groan softly with desire. “No more games, Sir. Either you want him or ya don't. You don't have to rush off and propose to him or anything but I need to know for my own piece of mind…and you know what a brat I can be when I don't get my way.”

 

Rufus closed his eyes and hissed as Reno pressed his thigh against the bulge in his trousers. “Oh, you really are a fucking brat,” he moaned.

 

Reno murmured a silken laugh against his ear and nibbled the lobe. “I'll be good if ya just tell me, baby.”

 

He'd been completely taken off guard by Reno's unannounced arrival and sexy appearance and now Rufus was unusually flustered. He imagined that this must be what wild animals felt when they were in rut. He tried to put his arms around his lover but Reno pulled away again and shook his head.

 

“Oh bloody hell, Reno!” Rufus growled, “Yes, all right? Your fluffy-headed golden boy is important to me!”

 

“Why'd you change your attitude toward him then?” Reno persisted coolly, studying the president with heavy-lidded eyes.

 

Rufus threw his hands up in frustration. “Because, we have a conflict of interests! He and I don't mesh, Reno.”

 

“Who said that had to stop ya?” Reno asked softly, his hands once again working at Rufus's clothes.

 

“I don't know,” the president snarled in confusion and frustration. “I can't exactly have him, can I?”

 

“Sure ya can,” Reno snorted. “Is it that hard to take a lover that ain't under your authority?”

 

“I…I don't know,” Rufus sighed in defeat, shaking his head.

 

Reno took pity on him and cupped the back of his head to give him a slow, passionate kiss. The blonde was breathing heavily with a mixture of lust and emotions that he couldn't quite hide from the Turk when the kiss ended.

 

Reno looked him in the eyes and smiled. “I won't bother you about it anymore, Sir. If admitting it is the best you can do right now, that's fine. Just so you've got something to think about, next time ya see him.”

 

“Are you going to cooperate now?” Rufus inquired, his tone still frustrated.

 

“I'm all yours, baby,” Reno purred.

 

Rufus put one hand flat over the bared portion of his chest and pushed him against the edge of the desk. With his other hand, he swept everything off the surface of the desk—including his laptop.

 

“Yo boss, I think ya broke it,” Reno gasped when the computer crashed to the floor.

 

“I'll purchase another one,” the president said huskily as he kissed Reno hard. “Hop onto the desk.”

 

Reno obeyed and a breathless laugh escaped his lips as Rufus shoved him down onto his back and worshiped his neck and chest with his lips. His hat fell off onto the floor but neither of them paid any attention. Just like Cloud, the president was so turned on by the outfit Reno wore that he could barely seem to contain himself. Neither Cloud nor Rufus were likely to ever admit it, but despite their many differences they shared many similarities as well…mainly when it came to Reno and their desire for him.

 

As the redheaded Turk was attacked by his boss, he was content with the knowledge that sooner or later his two blonde bombshells would hook up again and the next time they might not be able to deny how they felt about one another.

 

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-The End