Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Boundaries ❯ This Inexplicable Fascination ( Chapter 3 )

Shattered Boundaries: This Inexplicable Fascination

 

Reeve sighed as he leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand across his temples in an attempt to relieve the rapidly building headache. The schematics for the new design and addition to Midgar were not coming out right at all, and he hadn't a decent night's sleep for over a week. He was exhausted, and it was only Tuesday. He still had three more days to go, not that his work stopped for the weekends.

 

Amber eyes closed in weariness as he turned away from his calculations, torn between wanting to rest and desperately needed to get up and find a cup of coffee. He had just managed to get the throbbing under control, far too young to be feeling this old, when a sudden rapid-fire knock announced his secretary, reminding him that he had turn off the intercom an hour after returning from lunch. Sitting up and attempting to look busy, he called for her to enter.

 

The young lady, a lovely brunette by the name of Roxanne, who severely tested his scruples, popped her head in. “I apologize, Mr. Tuesti, but there is someone here to see you.” She flashed him one of her usual bright and cheery grins.

Reeve cocked a brow, mentally recalling his schedule. The board meeting that morning had been canceled as had his lunch with the vice-president. What else was there?

 

It hit him suddenly. He had nearly forgotten about requesting the services of a Turk. Terrorists had been hijacking his couriers lately, simply because they bore the ShinRa insignia. They also hoped to get the plans to the building as well. Due to this, he had been experiencing a severe delay in many projects, thus the reason for his present fatigue.

 

“Send him in,” he responded, and as she smiled, he hurriedly added, “And coffee, if you would please?”

 

Roxanne nodded. “Yes, sir,” she chirped before her head disappeared leaving the door slightly cracked. He dimly heard her tell the Turk to enter as he attempted to make it look like he was actually working, eyes scanning over the numbers on his calculations and not reading a single one.

 

There was a brief knock and a slight creak as the Turk announced his presence, otherwise stepping so quietly into the room that Reeve almost believed a ghost had entered. He already had a smile of greeting on his face as he slowly rose to his feet, finally raising his gaze to meet the man with hand extended when sudden recognition struck him. Bright red hair, twin tattoos, shining eyes…

 

“You!” he spluttered, eyes widening in shock, nearly jerking backwards.

 

It was him! It was that boy from two years ago in the ShinRa lobby. The one that had made him act so foolish.

 

He had tried to push those eyes from his mind, but they were always there, lingering in his thoughts. He had found himself picking up the phone one time with the intention of calling Tseng just to know the boy's name before he realized what he was doing and slammed it back down. He couldn't understand his sudden and inexplicable fascination with a boy who was at least ten years his junior, if not more.

 

The boy smirked, lazily running a hand through his strawberry-red hair, and Reeve was horrified to find himself watching the movement diligently.

 

“So you do remember,” he drawled, stance cocky as he stood in front of the desk. “Glad to know I'm not the only one, yo.”

 

Reeve blinked, feeling a strange heat creep into his cheeks as he stared with disbelieving eyes at the boy, who continued to fluster him, even two years later. He glanced quickly at the door as if expecting someone else, but no one was forthcoming.

 

“But… where's Rude?” he spluttered. He and Rude had a long-standing work relationship; he had almost expected the bald man to come.

 

The boy waved a hand of dismissal. “Out on assignment somewhere, so it's just me.” He grinned then, something sly that pulled at the corner of his mouth as aquamarine eyes sparkled. “Why? Ain't I good enough, yo?” he questioned, tapping what appeared to be the newest model of Electro Rod on his right shoulder.

 

“No… I mean, yes… I mean,” Reeve trailed off, unable to help his lingering scrutiny. The boy had changed since he last saw him, though the cockiness remained. He was less pale and healthier looking, and he had also gained at least a foot in height. Though the Turk uniform was loose, Reeve could definitely see sleek muscle definition beneath it, and Reeve's ears burned when he realized he had been staring.

 

He dropped his eyes to the side, struggling to gain a grip. His sanity must have taken an impromptu vacation because there was no way he was attracted to this… boy.

 

“What I mean to say,” Reeve began, taking a deep breath, “is that I expected Rude, but I suppose it really doesn't matter.”

 

The Turk, whose name he had still yet to find out, smirked again. “How `bout trying it again?” He jerked a thumb towards himself. “The name's Reno, and I'm your Turk for the day, yo.”

 

Reeve wished that he hadn't said it like that; it sounded like an invitation to his sanity-lacking mind, not that he was interested, of course.

 

“Reeve Tuesti,” he introduced, reaching to shake hands with the boy.

 

Reno smirked, eyes sparkling in a sharp contrast to the scarlet tattoos on his cheeks. “I know, yo.” He lazily stuck out his own, and the moment their fingers touched, a shock passed between them, a tingle that spread all the way from Reeve's palm straight into the rest of his body along with a strange warm flush.

 

The executive looked up to find blue-green eyes staring directly into his own, and it made something inside of him jump as his blood suddenly thrummed hotly in his veins. To his horror, he found a small thread of desire beginning to worm its way through him, and he abruptly broke off the contact, taking his hand back and unconsciously rubbing his fingers together at his side.

 

“Did… uh…” He paused, clearing his throat audibly as he took a step backwards, putting a safe distance between them, who was giving him a strange look. Considering that there already was a desk between them, it was probably warranted. “Did Tseng explain anything about what I needed?”

 

A lazy curve turned up the corner of Reno's lips. “Do you even know what you need, yo?” Just the way he said it implied that they weren't talking about the job anymore. He tapped his Electro Rod against his shoulder again and made no secret of his attempts to hold Reeve's gaze.

 

He couldn't understand why this man affected him so strongly. He remembered the events of two years passed and thought he had successfully pushed it all away. He hadn't counted on seeing Reno again. And if he didn't know better, he would say that the boy was flirting with him.

 

Didn't he know that Reeve was straight?

 

He had no interest in males, none whatsoever. Just because his sanity had flown to the moon and he was easily flustered meant nothing at all. Reeve was a hundred percent certain that the stars were just out of alignment, or perhaps he was tired or something because he was certainly not gay, not one tiny bit. Maybe it was because Reno was pretty enough to be a girl, despite his obviously masculine traits.

Wait! Did he just think that Reno was pretty?

 

Flushing at the sudden thought and wondering when he had become a blushing virgin, Reeve shook his head, pretending that he hadn't heard Reno's last insinuation.

 

“Recently, my couriers have been attacked, and I've been losing documents. I believe that a terrorist group hopes to get their hands on ShinRa's blueprints,” the executive explained, jumping straight into business. His gaze dropped down to the paper's littering his desk. “I am more than a month behind in my specs, and the President is expecting results by next week. I cannot afford to be delayed any further.” He began to shuffle through all of the documents, trying to remember which he was searching for.

 

Suddenly, a pale hand pressed itself to the papers directly in front of him and on the one he was attempting to pick up. It rested there with enough force to prevent him even moving it, and startled, Reeve looked up. However, that was only to realize he was barely three inches from Reno's face, staring directly into aquamarine eyes. Reno was smirking as he leaned across the desk, and the faint scent of wintergreen mints and strawberry floated in Reeve's direction.

 

The executive froze.

 

“Two years… and I haven't forgotten you,” Reno commented, his voice low, sultry even. They were so close; Reeve could feel each puff of the boy's breath against his lips. “And it seems you haven't either, yo.”

 

Reeve flushed, wanting to pull back but seemingly transfixed into place. “Curiosity means nothing,” he claimed. “I take a general interest in all of ShinRa's affairs.” In his mind, his own voice was screaming “Lies! Lies!” over and over, but he ignored it for the sake of rationality.

 

“Oh?” The Turk raised a brow, licking his lips and instantly drawing an amber gaze towards them. “Then why are you so flustered?” he asked silkily.

 

Reeve swallowed thickly as treacherous ideas entered his head. Most were along the lines of leaning those few extra inches and capturing those lips with his own, wondering if they tasted like strawberries. A flash of heat shot through his veins, and his eyes widened in shock, a protest on the tip of his tongue.

 

“You want me,” Reno continued unabated and before Reeve could even slip in a denial. “An' guess what? It's mutual, yo.”

 

Reeve sucked in a breath. “You… don't know what you are talking about.” He denied. “I'm straight, if you haven't noticed.”

 

The Turk smirked, eyes darkening with something akin to lust. “I don't believe it. You haven't stopped watchin' me since I walked in the door.”

 

That strange urge to kiss Reno surged up even stronger in Reeve's mind, confirming his loss of sanity as something flitted in his belly. It was an odd emotion he didn't quite know how to identify.

 

“You're wrong.”

 

Reno tilted his head to the side but only slightly, the movement bringing the closer. “Am I? Why don't you kiss me and find out?”

 

Knock! Knock! Two sharp raps suddenly echoed on Reeve's door, and in shock, he jerked backwards, hurriedly putting distance between himself and the Turk. He scarcely noticed as Reno made his movements far more languid, slowly straightening and raking a hand through his hair. Reeve cleared his throat, attempting to put some calm back into his body.

 

“Come in,” he called, automatically assuming that it was Roxanne. After all, he still had the intercom off.

 

As the door clicked open and his secretary stuck her head in, Reeve struggled to gain a grip on his sanity, casting his gaze down to his desk and mindlessly rearranging his papers. He was hyperaware of every move Reno made, shifting his weight onto one foot as he tapped the Electro Rod against his shoulder again, casting amused looks towards the executive. Reeve quickly glanced away.

 

Roxanne edged her way inside, a stack of documents tucked under one hand and a cup of steaming coffee carefully balanced in the other. She smiled at Reno, a flirtatious look that instantly made Reeve narrow his eyes in jealousy before he could realize what he was doing. He quickly clamped down on the unwanted emotion, easing down slowly into his chair. He really needed to sit for a moment.

 

Roxanne set the cup down in front of him, laying the other documents down as well, and as the scent of coffee and hazelnut floated his direction, a realization struck him. He was tired; yes, that must have been the reason for the loss of his sanity. The caffeine would cure it all.

 

“Tseng called, Mr. Tuesti,” Roxanne informed him, shooting another eager glance towards Reno, who returned her grin with a lazy smirk. “He asks if you are satisfied or would you rather another. Also, Heidegger has a question about the specs for the new weapons lab.”

 

She pointed to one of the documents on his desk and to a line that was starred and highlighted, as if to plainly state its importance; Reeve was forced to drag his gaze away from Reno and to the paper.

 

“Specifically, regarding section E-5.”

 

The executive nodded, immediately reaching for his coffee and beginning to sip from it, the hot liquid wonderfully soothing to him. “Thank you, Roxanne. Would you please get together the specifics for the new project?”

 

She giggled, casting a look out from under her lashes as she stepped back. “Of course, Mr. Tuesti. The ones for Junon, correct?” He nodded, and she continued, “I'll get right on it.” Flipping her hair over a shoulder in a flirtatious movement, she eased out of the room, careful to close the door behind her.

 

Reno waited until the door clicked shut before chuckling lightly, raising an eyebrow at her actions. “A little desperate?” he questioned rhetorically before returning his attention to Reeve. “Now, where were we, yo?” He leaned against the desk.

 

The executive scowled, whatever mood that might have been there before completely broken, which he considered a good thing. He held up a paper towards the Turk, waiting until Reno took it before explaining.

 

“This is the name and location of the man waiting for these documents. I trust you can deliver them safely,” Reeve clarified politely, thankful that his momentary insanity had faded.

 

Reno was nothing more to his eyes than a very attract—

 

No! Reno was simply a valuable asset in completing his project. He didn't notice how his eyes seemed to shift in color. Or that his Turk suit fit him very well. Or that he had the sort of lazy grace of a panther. Or that his lips looked as if they were begging to be tasted. Not at all. Reeve didn't notice any of these things.

 

Mako bright eyes scanned the important document; why hadn't Reeve noticed how vivid they were before? Reno's lip curled into a slight frown, gaze narrowing slightly.

 

“Piece of cake,” he declared, letting his weapon dangle from the strap around his wrist as he folded the paper with directions in it and stuck it into his pocket. “Couple of days max.”

 

“Good.” Reeve nodded, turning his attention back to his coffee and his desk in an attempt to distract himself. It failed miserably as he had to physically fight the urge to look up. His coffee sloshed slightly in his cup, and he sipped it just to hide the motion, unable to understand what was going on. Why? What was it about this boy?

 

Reno grinned as he shrugged. “I'll head out tonight then. Catch you later, Reeve. We still have some unfinished business, yo.” The Turk turned towards the door, long and slim fingers curling around the knob as he pulled it open, but before he left, he couldn't help but toss one more statement over his shoulder. “And if you doubt my abilities, you should check out the training center sometime. I'm good at everything I do.” He winked and disappeared out the door, shutting it with a quiet click behind him.

 

Reeve immediately rubbed a hand against his forehead, feeling a headache beginning to form. The boy was confusing and infuriating and… damn it all to hell, arousing.

 

He couldn't understand it. When Reno was in the room, Reeve found his eyes curiously drawn towards him. His body wanted to move of its own accord with odd urges to taste and touch. He found himself fascinated by the Turk, eager to know more about him and his past, anything he could. He wondered about the boy's favorite color and the meaning behind the tattoos. All those lingering interests from two years before, ones he thought he had pushed aside, roared to life with new vengeance.

 

It simply would not do.

 

He gulped down another thick swallow of his coffee, wondering if it would return him to a sane state of mind. When another flash of red hair and aquamarine eyes jolted his mind, sending a strange shock through his veins, Reeve lunged for his phone. He rapidly dialed a number he had unfortunately recognized. Something had to happen. He couldn't long for the touch of a man. He simply couldn't.

 

He only had to wait two rings before the phone was answered. “Tousen residence.”

 

Reeve cleared his throat. “I'd like to speak to Miss Cameron please.”

 

* * *

 

Reno smiled and flirted with Reeve's secretary, almost unconsciously, but his mind was on an entirely different path. It was still trapped on the other side of the door with Reeve, attempting to get further beneath the executive's skin.

 

He had known before walking through those doors that Reeve was a heterosexual, but when it became obvious that the other man not only recognized him but was also reacting favorably, Reno had put his plan into action. Reeve looked good, impeccably so, and it was all he had not to simply jump across the desk and kiss him senseless. Reno wanted and had for two years now. He would not be easily dissuaded.

 

Reeve was skittish and obviously trying to deny what he was feeling, but the desire sparking between them could not be ignored for long. There was something there that Reno could not explain, almost supernatural, but from the moment he had first seen Reeve, he knew he wanted him.

 

He didn't really have a plan, mostly going by instinct. Reno could only hope that he didn't scare Reeve away. He wasn't a man that dreamed much before leaving the slums, but now, his nights were being overtaken by thoughts of that man. He didn't understand it but wasn't going to bother questioning any longer.

 

He wanted Reeve. To Reno, it was as simple as that.

 

* * *

 

He couldn't believe he was doing this. Reeve felt foolish and just a tad bit obsessed, but that didn't seem to stop his feet from moving or keep his eyes from scanning the wide floor beneath him. Two weeks had passed, and yet, he couldn't seem to get rid of distracting thoughts of that boy. And now, he was only feeding his addiction, if indeed that was what it could be called.

 

It was unbelievably warm in the indoor training arena, and he found himself tugging on his tie to loosen it as he leaned on the railing and looked down into the arena itself from one of the many observation desks scattered around the circular structure. If anyone asked, he had a viable reason for being there, but really, he had come for one reason alone. He was only fooling himself as he scanned the floor with almost eager eyes, searching for bright red hair and inwardly cursing his own foolishness.

 

Why? What was this inexplicable fascination with Reno? Why did he dream of him? Why were his thoughts eclipsed by this boy?

 

He couldn't concentrate, and something desperate in his mind had reasoned that he only needed to see him… and it would all go away. He had been driven to the arena; for some reason that actually made very little sense, he wanted to watch him, and he would be damned if he allowed himself to get close and personal with the young Turk. Not after what had almost happened last time.

 

Suddenly, amber eyes caught sight of Reno, and in an instant, his breath caught in his throat without him realizing it. Reeve was transfixed by the sight, and try as he might, he could not look away.

 

His eyes raked over Reno's form as the boy practiced some sort of hand-to-hand, martial arts. And boy he truly was. Reno was only seventeen, yet another reason for Reeve to stay the hell away from his strange compulsion. He couldn't help but watch, however, not when his eyes were drawn towards that lithe form as if it were riddled with ocular magnets.

 

Reno was fast, incredibly agile as he countered each attack from his opponent, a boy that Reeve did not recognize. The look of concentration on Reno's face was a startling contrast to the teasing, playful glances he had presented two weeks ago. And even from a distance, Reeve could see the muscles shifting beneath pale skin and a light sheen of sweat glistening over his flesh in the light. His mouth went dry before he realized it, unconsciously licking his lips.

 

He wasn't sure how to describe Reno's motions as he went on the offensive. He struck quickly and fluidly, often without a change in pace and with moves that the executive was certain no disciplined art had ever taught him. He flipped and twisted, and none of that mattered because he was beautiful. It seemed wrong to attach such a label to a male. Still, it was the truth with his bright scarlet hair, a direct contrast to his pale and almost milky skin, and glowing blue-green eyes that were darkened by his seriousness. Reno was tall and lithe and seemingly everything that Reeve hadn't known he ever wanted.

 

His fingers curled against the railing as his blood began to rush through his veins from simply watching, a familiar heat that he had been battling quite frequently when it came to thoughts of Reno. His eyes remained locked on the redhead as his breathing quickened, and there was an urge to run down to the arena and do something since watching was almost like torture. Instead of easing his insane obsession, this was only serving to heighten it, making him want things he shouldn't and wasn't supposed to.

 

Why this fascination with a man? Homosexuality was fine for other people, but Reeve was not gay!

 

Was he?

 

Below him, Reno dealt the final blow, knocking his opponent to the ground and putting a well-aimed foot to the other boy's neck to signify the victory. For a moment, their faces were full of solemnity before the two burst into laughter, grins splitting their faces into something much more suitable for their young ages. Reno backed up and offered his training partner a hand, hauling the boy to his feet and slapping him across his back. The other male stumbled before bending to swipe a white towel from the ground, wiping it over his face.

 

They exchanged a few short words as Reno raked his hands through his hair, tangling his fingers in the incredibly long, red strands. They shook hands again before the other took off, leaving Reno alone on the training mat. Grinning to himself and readjusting the tie in his hair, Reno suddenly raised his eyes. He locked directly onto Reeve, who was standing on the observation deck, as if knowing the executive was there all along.

 

Aquamarine eyes wrapped around him, seemingly narrowing the world down until it was just the two of them. The sounds of the other people, the clang of the weights, and the pained grunts, all faded away, and the only heat that mattered was the fire blazing between them, trapped within their interlocked gaze. Reeve swallowed thickly, wondering why he was so attracted to this boy… this man--

 

“It makes you remember the old days, does it not?”

 

Reeve jerked his eyes away from Reno in complete shock, nearly jumping in surprise to find Tseng, the Turk second in command, standing right next to him with a look of faint bemusement on his refined features. And for the life of him, the executive could not seem to come up with a coherent thought. He flushed unintentionally at being caught, but the Wutaiian continued either unfazed or completely unaware of Reeve's discomfit. Considering the man before him, it was neither, and Tseng already knew exactly what was going on.

 

“It's been what… four years since you were in intelligence?” Tseng questioned, stepping up to the railing and letting his gaze roam over those training below. He frowned slightly, noticing when a few weren't up to his standards.

 

“Six, actually,” Reeve corrected. “Just last month.” He took a deep breath and forced himself to look anywhere but down into the arena, no matter how much his eyes wanted to stray. He didn't need to embarrass himself any further with this bizarre… obsession. “The training center could use an overhaul,” he continued, slipping in his “reason” for wandering at least twenty floors away from his office. “You were right.”

 

Tseng nodded. “The new headquarters were simply built around it, which means that it is grossly outdated. Heidegger has been griping for months, but the President has never really listened to him before. I doubt he is going to start now.” He tilted his head to the side, watching Reeve and not failing to notice when the executive's gaze lingered towards the arena, only to jerk away when he realized what he was doing. A smirk crossed the Wutaiian's face.

 

“Would you like to train with them? I believe we have your usual in stock,” he suggested casually.

 

Reeve flushed, shifting his body so that he could no longer even see into the arena. Instead, he stared out the massive windows and directly into the twilight sky. It was safer that way.

 

“No, I only came here to observe.”

 

“So I see,” Tseng responded neutrally. “Anything in particular?”

 

From the tone of his voice, Reeve knew that his friend was fishing for details. It was Tseng's “curious” voice, which meant he thought that he knew something. What that something was, Reeve had no clue, but he had a good guess.

 

The executive shook his head as he moved away from the railing, not that he expected Tseng to give up; the man was tenacious when he thought he was close to some secret.

 

“No. Why don't you just show me what exactly needs refurbishing?”

 

Silver eyes regarded him thoughtfully, almost amusedly, before Tseng at last turned away, heading towards the door on the far end. “Since you finally took the time to slum with the rest of us, I suppose I had better.” He tucked his hands behind his back as Reeve began to walk beside him. “I would be interested to know what finally brought you here.”

 

“No reason in particular,” Reeve lied. “The office was simply stifling.” His willpower failed him as he managed one last look to the arena, but by then, Reno was already gone. The strange emotion and desire curdling inside of him, however, continued to linger.

 

“Stifling,” he repeated. “Fascinating.” Tseng raised a brow with clear disbelief as he opened the door, gesturing for Reeve to precede him. “Tell me. Is Reno working out for you, or will you require the services of another one of my Turks?”

 

The door closed on Reeve's flustered response.

 

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