Aftermath

Author’s Note: Main warnings are: language, sexual situations, and length (7300 words). And without further ado...

Thank you to...
- Youkofox, for your beta read through. You are so awesome!
- moon, for your review. I'm so glad you are enjoying it. Sorry I'm a little slow. hehe ^^;
- kamizuki, for your review. *hugs* Guess what... I'm posting the monster chapter all at once. It just had to be this way. ^^
- SpookyMuffin, for your review. I'm so glad chapter 13 moved you deeply. I think I'm rather emotionally attached to the whole story myself. ^^*
- Iggy Lovechild, for your review and awesome discussion. I appreciate you pointing out those specific parts that moved you. That part about the scraping nails still affects me. It feels so strange to be so deeply emotional about a work, but I guess that's how I get.
- Squallfan, for your review. *hugs* Thanks for hanging with me all this time and being so open and honest about how things were making you feel. I hope you'll enjoy this one too.

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Chapter 14 – Feeling

Cloud wasn’t sure exactly how long he’d been sitting in that sterile vinyl chair, leaning against Reno’s hospital bed. It was dark behind the closed curtained window, but that didn’t tell him much. He sat up and with great effort, peeled his arm from the bed, moving it ever so carefully toward his body. As the blood started to circulate again, causing thousands of little pin pricks to jolt his arm all at once, he braced himself for the imminent rush of pain that threaded through his arm.

“Ah,” Cloud said, rubbing his arm and cursing quietly.

“He ain’t woken up yet,” Rude said behind him. Cloud turned to look at the bald Turk, not really surprised to see that he was still sitting on the only other chair in the room, close to the foot of Reno’s bed. “You want coffee? I’m gonna make some.”

“Sure,” Cloud said.

Cloud flexed his fingers and breathed a sigh of relief when the pressure in his arm finally subsided. He scooted his chair closer to Reno’s bed, leaning both elbows against the hard flat mattress so that he could prop his head up. His neck ached a bit too, and there wasn’t really anything he could do about that.

Reno was lying on his back, his head propped up on a large white pillow, with an oxygen mask fastened securely over his nose and mouth. He had thin, clear tubes in his nose, and Cloud followed the lines with his eyes, looking a bit forlornly at the machine that regulated the Turk’s breathing. Even though he knew that the setup was there to ensure that Reno kept breathing whether his lungs were working properly or not, he couldn’t help but feel resentful that the red-head was so dependent on all the medical equipment surrounding him.

Reno probably wouldn’t like this shit either, Cloud thought.

There was an intravenous drip hanging above him on the far side of the bed. Cloud noticed that there were two different bags of fluid connected to the same line. The larger bag was filled with a clear solution and the other was much smaller and darker in color. The crimson shade of the liquid inside the bag made him think it was likely a blood transfusion. Both were steadily releasing intermittent droplets of liquid into their respective drip chambers, and slowly sliding down the tube that connected to Reno’s arm. He stared at the thick bandages and tape that secured the needle deep within Reno’s skin and his vision blurred for a moment.

They weren’t calling it an induced coma exactly, but Cloud was beginning to think that might be the right description for what he was seeing. There was no sign of conscious life from Reno, unless one counted the forced rhythmic rising and falling of his chest, and the occasional beep from the heart monitor that was checking for a pulse every couple seconds. The red-head’s pallor was startlingly ashen and his normally vibrant hair fell listlessly around his face in limp strands. His goggles were missing and no where to be found.

Cloud frowned deeply as he noticed that Reno still had traces of blood on his scalp and in his hair. It would probably be pretty tough to get all that out without submerging him into a warm soapy bath. Cloud tried to imagine Reno soaking in a tub, running his fingers through his soap-lathered hair, cursing all the while about how dried blood is so damn difficult to clean off. The thought almost amused him, but he was so very painfully aware of the fact that none of that was actually happening right now.

As long as the red-head stayed in this bed looking like he was knocking on death’s door, Cloud knew that he was stuck feeling helpless, anxious, and a bit afraid. He kept thinking about what had happened in the chopper on the flight to Healin. He’d nearly let Reno slip away from him and he couldn’t help but wonder if what he’d done had been enough. Cloud’s whole life felt like it had been put on hold and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something profound had happened to both of them, no matter how hard he tried.

Cloud reached forward, trailing his fingers over Reno’s forehead and down the sides of his face gently. He smoothed the Turk’s hair back a few times, pausing to tuck a couple strands behind his ears, only stopping when he realized Rude had returned with a steaming mug of coffee for him. Cloud reluctantly pulled his hands away from the red-head, thinking that it wouldn’t hurt to warm his cold fingers on the coffee cup. He didn’t really care that Rude had seen him touching Reno; the bald Turk had seen him doing a lot worse.

Cloud took the cup of black coffee and thanked Rude, despite the fact that he normally added a little cream to it. He doubted that he’d really be able to taste it anyway.

“It should be drinkin’ temp in a few minutes,” Rude said, sounding as if he wasn’t sure if they should attempt conversation or not. “That coffee maker never really gets the shit real hot.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Cloud caught sight of something glinting in Rude’s palm. He forced himself to focus on the plastic and metal so that he could make out what it was. Rude shifted uncomfortably, having seen the direction of Cloud’s gaze.

“I’m just holdin’ onto his goggles for him until he wakes up,” he said, quickly hiding them in his inside jacket pocket.

“What did they give him?” Cloud said, changing the subject and ignoring the frown the other man wore upon his face. “He was conscious enough when we brought him here.”

“Probably some kinda sedative,” Rude said.

“All this waiting is driving me insane,” Cloud said.

“Same here,” Rude said, suddenly glancing down at his suit. He pulled his cell phone from his inside jacket pocket and looked at the caller ID. With no real emotion showing on his face, he answered the phone.

“Yes, sir,” Rude said. His silence went on for about a minute as he appeared to be listening to the person on the other end; Cloud figured that it probably was Tseng. Rude hung up suddenly, without saying goodbye.

“Tseng wants me in his office,” Rude glanced at Cloud over the top of his glasses. “Let somebody know when somethin’ changes.”

Cloud nodded, watching Rude go. The man hadn’t seemed very eager to leave Reno’s bedside and Cloud had a strange feeling that the Turk might not be back any time soon. Cloud had already been in Tseng’s office, where he’d described what he’d witnessed earlier that day in old Midgar. Tseng hadn’t given him many details in return, but he had informed Cloud that the problems with Seneco were something they weren’t going to be worrying about anymore.

As a reward of sorts, they let him clean up in their shared locker room and had taken his soiled clothes to their experts for professional cleaning. Tseng said he’d have them back in a few hours. In the meantime, Rude had given him simple black sweats, a shirt, and some socks from Reno’s clothes stash. Everything fit him pretty well, even though the pants were a tiny bit long and the shirt was a little tight in the chest.

He put his cup down on the small end table next to the chair. Even though he appreciated the fact that Rude had made coffee for him, he just didn’t feel like drinking the dark liquid. Smelling it was making his empty stomach feel a bit queasy.

Cloud propped himself against the bed again, wrapping his fingers around Reno’s hand, carefully avoiding the fading bruises present on the Turk’s knuckles. Without Rude’s occasional conversation, the room was a lonely and desolate place to be. Cloud’s eyes drifted back to Reno’s face and a tenderness welled up inside him that he couldn’t quite explain. He wanted desperately for Reno to open his eyes and tell him that everything was going to be alright. He leaned down, planted a gentle kiss on the Turk’s fingers, and pressed his cheek against Reno’s warm skin.

He draped the red ribbon over their entwined fingers, suddenly wishing he could talk to Aerith. Of course, he already knew what she’d say. He was right where he was supposed to be at this moment in time, fulfilling the promise he’d made to Reno back in the chopper. She’d probably laugh at him in that sweet lighthearted way that she always did when he worried about things too much. Regardless of what he knew, it didn’t stop him from longing to hear her actually say these things to him.

Cloud continued to rest his head on the edge of the bed, feeling mentally and physically exhausted. His eyes lazily drifted closed and the humming of the medical machines gradually lulled him into a dreamless sleep.

He was awoken a short time later by the sensation of someone touching his hair. As he tried to remember where he was, he felt a warm fingertip trace across his eyebrow. Realization hit a moment later and Cloud jolted awake, sitting up and blinking furiously.

“Reno?” Cloud said. Trying to clear his groggy mind, he could only mutter in surprise. “You’re awake?”

Cloud had expected something a little more dramatic when the Turk finally woke up. He’d imagined that he might have to comfort him, or help him focus on where he was, but as it went down, Reno was just laying there quietly, his cyan eyes open and staring at him calmly. Cloud glanced over at the small window in the room and observed that it was still dark outside. No one else was in the room with them.

“Yeah,” Reno said quietly. “I’m glad you noticed.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Like a shattered glass ashtray that some asshole tried to piece back together with bubble gum,” Reno said, with a tired-sounding chuckle. Reno winced abruptly, as if experiencing some discomfort. In the dimness of the room, Cloud could still see his pained expression clearly.

“Are you alright?”

“No, this shit hurts,” Reno said, pointing to the mess of tubes attached to his nose, “and my mouth is so fuckin’ dry.” He managed to pull the oxygen mask off his face and tossed it to the side, clearly frustrated with the fact that he couldn’t remove the rest.

“I’ll call someone if you want,” Cloud said, thrilled that Reno was starting to sound more like himself with every second that passed by.

“Yeah,” Reno said, relaxing noticeably. He blinked his eyes closed and they remained shut. Cloud was pretty sure that Reno was just resting, but that thought didn’t keep the worry from showing on his face. He was glad that Reno wasn’t watching him right now.

Cloud pressed the call button on the side of the bed and leaned on the mattress again, his hand seeking contact with Reno’s warm palm. The Turk didn’t open his eyes, but he did intertwine his fingers with Cloud’s, as they waited for someone to respond to the call.

“It’s late,” Cloud said. “The doctors might not be out there.”

“I’ll survive,” Reno said, his voice drifted away.

Reno’s lips looked terribly dry and Cloud wasn’t sure if he was allowed to give him anything to drink. He watched the Turk’s tongue flick out of his mouth, and Cloud frowned with deep concern as Reno seemed to be struggling to wet his lips. Cloud stood up from the chair and sat down on the bed, leaning one arm across Reno’s body. The Turk opened his eyes as he felt the mattress move beneath Cloud’s weight. His expression of confusion turned to one of anticipation as he seemed to recognize what Cloud was doing.

“I never expected anything this complicated,” Cloud said.

“Hmm?”

“I mean, you’ve managed to keep me up past my bedtime,” Cloud said, his eyes meeting Reno’s playfully, as he drifted closer to the Turk. “But this whole situation really isn’t what I had in mind.”

“Me either,” Reno said breathlessly.

Cloud moistened his own lips and leaned forward, touching them gently to the Turk’s lightly chapped skin. Reno parted his lips instantly, drawing Cloud’s wet tongue against his teeth and then deep into his mouth. Reno sucked on him urgently, until finally Cloud withdrew his tongue; he licked slowly over Reno’s top and bottom lip, lingering deliberately, enjoying the fact that Reno was trying to lick him back, as if wanting to draw as much of his saliva into his mouth as he could.

The red-head gasped in pain unexpectedly, his hand brushing over his crotch. He uttered a few curses that Cloud hadn’t heard before.

“What--?”

“Fuckin’ catheter,” Reno said, in tone that sounded completely frustrated. “Apparently they don’t feel so good when you get a hard on.”

Cloud pulled back as he processed what Reno was saying. He hadn’t realized that the medical team had deemed something like that necessary; it made sense though, Reno had been unconscious and unable to drain his bladder himself. Feeling a little stupid for inadvertently causing Reno’s distress, he pressed the call button again and then stood up.

“I’m going out there to look for someone,” Cloud said.

He didn’t have to go far. As Cloud reached the door, one of the nurses on duty was just stopping by the room. She looked a bit tired, as if the night shift wasn’t normally her responsibility. Not that there were many patients at Healin on any shift since Rufus Shinra had taken over the building.

She walked past Cloud, flicked on the bright overhead lights, and grabbed Reno’s chart, making a couple notations before speaking to him, “Awake, are we?” Reno’s eyes were squinting at the bright light and he sighed in response, clearly not in the mood for idle conversation.

“You shouldn’t be awake yet,” she said. “We’ll have to up the dosage of your sedative.”

“I don’t want that,” Reno said.

“Doctor’s orders, Reno,” the nurse said.

“He said he didn’t want it,” Cloud said, his voice taking on a forceful tone. “What he wants, is to have all those tubes taken out.”

“I’m not authorized to—“

“The hell you ain’t,” Reno said, interrupting her. “I’ll sign a fuckin’ release if I have to. Get this shit off me—outta me, whatever.”

She glanced at Reno, then at Cloud and jotted something else onto the chart nervously. She held the chart out to Reno and pointed to something on there. Cloud watched him sign his name and hand the papers back to her. She took the board and dropped it back into the slot at the end of the bed and grabbed a pair of latex gloves from the counter supply box.

“Alright,” she said, starting to pull the privacy curtain around Reno’s bed.

“Wait, Cloud,” Reno said, a sudden strain in his voice. Cloud inched closer to the bed and hovered nearby, searching Reno’s eyes. He could tell that Reno didn’t want to be alone with this nurse. He wasn’t sure why exactly, but knowing that she worked for Shinra was enough reason for him to understand Reno’s hesitation. Maybe he was afraid she’d up the dosage on his sedative if she thought no one was watching. “Leave the curtain open.”

The nurse glanced at Cloud wearily, pushing the curtain back out of the way. Cloud didn’t really want to watch, now that he thought about it. The nurse powered down the respirator machine and removed the thin strip of tape on Reno’s nose that had been holding his tubing in place.

“This one isn’t very deep,” she said, pulling the plastic gently forward. “Probably deep enough to feel bothersome though.”

Reno wrinkled his nose up and down as soon as she removed it, looking much happier than he had a moment before. She took the tubing over to a marked bin and dropped them inside, removing her gloves and throwing them away.

“Don’t forget the other one,” Reno said, bringing his hand up to rub his nose gently.

“Of course,” she said, pulling a few other items out of the cabinet. She put on a new pair of gloves and instructed Reno to move his blanket to the side and lift his hospital gown.

As Reno complied with her request, Cloud averted his eyes, making sure to keep his gaze focused away from where the nurse was working. Even though he didn’t want to watch the procedure, he was determined to stand by in case Reno needed anything. It’s not that he was feeling shy; Cloud just didn’t think he would want anyone gaping at the gruesome detail if he was in a similar position.

“Do you want anesthetic?”

“How long does it last?” Reno said, shooting a wink in Cloud’s direction. Cloud caught the boggled expression that the nurse gave him as she tried to answer his question.

“Anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. It depends on the person.”

“I’ll pass then,” Reno said.

“Try to relax and take deep breaths as you need them,” she said.

Cloud watched the nurse’s arms tense as she gently began to pull the catheter out of him. Reno leaned his head back and closed his eyes, responding with a loud hissing breath. The Turk’s fingers were gripping the sheets tightly and Cloud wished that there was something he could do to ease Reno’s discomfort.

“Alright, all done,” the nurse said, a bit too cheerfully.

She walked around to the other side of the bed and picked up the collection bag and that’s when Cloud stopped watching her. Reno’s eyebrows were bunched together and he was taking measured breaths. Cloud reached over, pulling Reno’s gown and covers back over him, feeling annoyed that the nurse hadn’t done that when she was finished. He stood there patiently, waiting for the Turk to sort through whatever pain he was feeling.

After a few more seconds, Reno’s eyes fluttered back open and he rubbed his crotch under the blankets, “Remind me to fuckin’ bitch at whoever ordered that for me.”

“Is there anything else you need before I leave?” the nurse said, clearly ignoring Reno’s angry outburst.

“Can he have something to drink?” Cloud said, asking hopefully.

“A little water should be fine,” the nurse said, pointing to a small cooler in the corner of the room. “Not too much though.”

“What about this?” Reno said, holding up his arm that the intravenous needle was hooked to.

“You’re still dehydrated and the blood transfusion isn’t finished. Perhaps you ought to consider keeping that on. The cure potions can’t replace lost fluids, as you may already know.”

Reno sighed and put his arm back against the mattress, “Fine.”

After the nurse left them, Cloud got a small cup of water from the cooler and brought it over to Reno. He watched the Turk thirstily drain the paper cup, and then crumple it and toss it at the far wall.

“Do you mind if I turn the lights back off?” Cloud said, figuring Reno wouldn’t care either way.

The light in the room was too bright and starting to irritate his tired eyes. When Reno didn’t say anything, Cloud hit the switch and sighed with relief as his eyes started to readjust to the near darkness. He returned to Reno’s bed, sitting down in the cold chair he’d already spent so many hours in.

“You’re so far away,” Reno said quietly. Cloud stood up again and leaned against the Turk’s bed, feeling the red-head’s warm fingers slide up his arm. “There’s enough room if you want to lie down with me.”

“I don’t know,” Cloud said, feeling uncomfortable with the idea of getting into the bed with the Turk. “It’s a hospital bed.”

Reno’s pleading tired eyes met his and Cloud knew that he’d lost the battle, “We can lower the back a little.”

Cloud examined the backrest, which was propped up at a sharp angle. He found the control that adjusted the height and made it as flat as it would go. Reno just watched him with a smirk as he was gradually lowered down. Cloud climbed onto the mattress, positioning himself on his side next to the Turk.

“You sure you want me this close?”

“I want you closer,” Reno said, wrapping his fingers tightly around Cloud’s shirt. The Turk kissed him lightly on the mouth. “A lot closer, yo.”

“After everything you’ve been through today?”

“Especially so,” Reno said quietly.

“Reno—“ Cloud tried to protest, but Reno had more to say to him.

“Have you ever died before, Cloud?”

Reno’s breath was warm against his face and he felt himself being pushed onto his back. Cloud couldn’t help but notice that Reno’s strength seemed to be returning and his color had improved drastically since he’d first laid eyes on him in this room. The Turk was hovering over him, staring at him intently, looking like he expected an honest answer. Cloud wasn’t sure that he could give him one.

“I think so,” Cloud said, thoughtfully. “Once, maybe… twice. I’m not sure…”

“As far as I know, I’ve only died once,” Reno said. “I’d still be dead if it weren’t for you.”

“We don’t have to talk about this—“

“Yes, we do,” Reno said, his voice momentarily firm. “I fuckin’ saw the Promised Land…”

“What?”

“I didn’t want to tell anybody, but I gotta tell you.”

Reno put his head down against Cloud’s chest, carefully favoring his bandaged wrist. Cloud wrapped his arm around Reno, holding him gently. The red-head was silent for a few minutes and Cloud was starting to think that the Turk might have drifted off to sleep. Whatever drugs were still circulating through him were certainly making Reno a bit more emotional than usual. Not that Cloud minded him being this way.

Seeing the Promised Land was nothing new to Cloud. The flashes of white light and the sudden invasion of things from the past, present, and future was something that he’d started getting used to. Cloud’s connection to Aerith and the planet had been strong at one time; it had been less so ever since Sephiroth and his remnants had finally been put to rest.

In all the time that had passed and all of the things he’d suffered through, Cloud couldn’t actually conjure up a very clear mental image of the Promised Land past what Aerith had routinely showed him. The place that she dwelled was so bright and filled with life that it was difficult to understand or explain that it wasn’t actually a real place. When Reno finally started speaking again, Cloud wasn’t ready for what he had to say.

“Zack… was there,” Reno said, clearly trying to find the right words.

Cloud inhaled sharply and he felt his palm breaking out in a cold sweat against Reno’s back. Something inside him was trying to shut out what he was hearing, but he couldn’t do that to Reno. He had to listen, even if he had to force himself.

“He told me I could stay there if I wanted to, but… he also said that I was lucky because I had a choice.”

“What do you mean?” Cloud said, his jaw suddenly feeling numb.

“Some people don’t have a choice. They either have to go on livin’, or have to stay in the Promised Land,” Reno said, speaking carefully. “Like Zack, for example. He wanted to come back, but couldn’t. The lifestream took him.”

“I let him die,” Cloud said.

“No,” Reno said, “He chose his destiny.”

“How can you know that?” Cloud whispered.

“He told me,” Reno said, lifting his eyes up to meet Cloud’s troubled gaze, “and he said he’d do it again if he had to. There’s no regrets or pain there; it’s so peaceful, like a dream…”

“Why would you want to come back from a place like that?”

“I didn’t at first, but that was because I didn’t know what the fuck was goin’ on,” Reno said. “I guess Zack was makin’ sure I knew I had a choice.”

“Why did you get to choose, but Zack didn’t?”

“It was because you wouldn’t give up on me, Cloud,” Reno said. “You kept me breathin’ and shit. I saw you tryin’ to save me and I heard everything you said…”

“Then I really did let Zack die.”

“No,” Reno said forcefully, sighing. “He knew you’d say that, so he wanted me to remind you that those grunts that took him down would have shot both of you if you’d been coherent enough to try anything. Think about it, you know it’s true.”

Cloud had to admit that what Reno was saying made sense and the details were frighteningly accurate coming from someone who hadn’t been there. Still, the unreality of it all was making it hard for Cloud to just accept and believe. He wasn’t sure if Reno meant anything he was saying, or if this was some kind of sick joke.

“You really came back for me?” Cloud said, trying to look away.

“Yeah,” Reno said, his voice pleading. “Why is that so hard for you to believe?”

Cloud’s cheeks flushed hotly. Those things he’d said while trying to revive Reno had come barreling out of his mouth faster than he had been able to stop them. All of his deep feelings for the Turk had been exposed, including those he’d not even been fully aware of. The only comfort he’d had afterwards was the thought that no one had actually heard him say any of it. Why would Zack allow Reno to hear the things he’d said?

Cloud’s throat tightened; he was sure that Zack hadn’t meant any harm. He felt comforted by the thought that his dear friend was still watching over him and had likely been with him in spirit over the last few years. Maybe Zack was trying to tell him that he shouldn’t wallow in his loneliness so much; it certainly seemed like he approved of the fact that Cloud and Reno were becoming close. There didn’t seem to be any other explanation.

“I guess it’s not,” Cloud said finally, looking at Reno with renewed intensity.

Reno reached up to kiss him and Cloud kissed back, their lips gently pressed against each other. It was a brief kiss; Reno was gasping and soon ran out of breath. The Turk put his head back down on Cloud’s chest, unable to hold himself up. Despite his renewed strength, the strain of having to support himself seemed to be too much for the red-head. Cloud massaged the back of Reno’s neck and looped a long strand of his hair around his index finger.

“Just rest, Reno,” Cloud said. “You can make good on your threat later.”

Reno chuckled, his mood turning lighter. The sound of his voice muffled into Cloud’s shirt, “But I want you to fuck me now.”

“How can I resist a polite offer like that,” Cloud said, kissing the Turk’s forehead. “I don’t know. I mean, I feel weird…”

Reno rolled over and promptly laid on his back. He pulled Cloud toward him, running his other hand down in between the blond’s legs. Cloud gasped as Reno’s hand massaged him through his pants, causing his already firm hardness to ache with need.

“You don’t feel weird to me,” Reno said. “You feel ready.”

“Never mind me, dammit,” Cloud said, pulling the Turk’s hand away. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You ain’t gonna hurt me,” Reno said. “C’mon, take your shirt off.”

Cloud hesitated for a moment, but decided to just go ahead and do what Reno wanted. He pulled the shirt up over his head and tossed it into the chair next to the bed, then he settled back down next to Reno. Cloud let his eyes drift closed as Reno ran his warm fingertips over his exposed chest lightly, inciting an army of chills to rise upon his flesh.

“Come closer,” Reno said, wrapping his fingers around Cloud’s shoulders and pulling him forward.

Cloud straddled Reno’s body, being very careful not to put his full weight upon him. He reached forward and licked Reno’s lower lip, trailing his tongue down the Turk’s chin. Reno leaned his head back, allowing Cloud access as the blond continued to run his tongue along Reno’s neck and jaw line. Cloud stopped as he reached Reno’s earlobe and he tucked his nose into the red-head’s ear, breathing hotly against the wetness he’d created there.

Reno moved his hips, grinding himself up against Cloud breathlessly. Reno was just as hard as he was, and Cloud was just now realizing the extent of both of their arousals.

He picked Reno up long enough to pull the hospital gown out from under him and then Cloud tugged it up over Reno’s head. He paused in confusion as he realized that he wouldn’t be able to get it completely off; the intravenous line was still attached to Reno’s arm, which caused a problem with one of the sleeves. Rather than risk pulling the needle out, Cloud ripped the seam that led from the sleeve to the neckline and then he tossed the mangled cloth onto the floor.

Reno chuckled, apparently finding Cloud’s methods amusing, “That’s gonna be fun to explain to Tseng.”

Cloud felt a little embarrassed that he hadn’t realized how difficult it was going to be to remove, “It’s just a hospital gown. We’ll get you another one.”

“Whatever,” Reno said, rubbing his naked body up against Cloud’s clothed thighs. He spread his legs, moving them out from under Cloud and he hooked his ankles around Cloud’s waist. “Just keep doin’ what you were before.”

“We might get caught,” Cloud whispered, lowering himself and pushing his hips against Reno urgently.

“I don’t care,” Reno said, tilting his head back again, as Cloud’s mouth attached to his throat.

The Turk cried out in surprise as Cloud bit his neck gently. Cloud paused, pressing his mouth demandingly against Reno’s warm skin, just enjoying the feel of Reno’s heartbeat on his tongue. He sucked hungrily at Reno’s flesh, until he could no longer taste any salty sweat upon the surface of his soft skin. Reno squirmed restlessly beneath him; only one of his arms was looped over Cloud’s shoulder. The other arm was the one they needed to be careful with. Reno was keeping it flat against the bed, his fingers digging into the sheets.

Pulling back, Cloud admired the light mark that he had left on Reno’s neck, and he began showering the Turk’s chest with lavish kisses, as he worked his way lower. Reno planted his feet back on the bed, his nails scraping gently as Cloud steadily moved out of his reach. Cloud lingered, giving Reno’s nipple a playful swirling lick with his tongue before continuing on.

Cloud sat up, just letting his eyes drink in the beauty of his new lover’s body. Reno was thin, but his muscles were well defined, and his skin was smooth and unblemished. Cloud glanced at Reno’s side, the spot that had been nearly destroyed by bullets just a few short hours ago. Only very faint scars remained visible; they’d probably be gone by morning as long as Reno continued receiving the correct amount of elixir. Cloud bent forward and kissed Reno there, tracing his fingers lightly over the fading scars.

Cloud found Reno absolutely breathtaking. His hair was loose and some of the longer strands were cascading down the front of his chest. Cloud stared at Reno for a long time, admiring the way his stunning red hair contrasted with his soft pale skin, as he sat there on his knees between the Turk’s legs.

“Cloud…? Somethin’ wrong?”

“No, not at all,” Cloud said, leaning forward to kiss the words from Reno’s lips.

Reno reached for Cloud’s stomach, tucking his fingers into the waistband of the sweatpants Cloud was wearing. He gave them a tug downward and moved his hand to the other side to do the same again. Cloud glanced down, amazed at how easily Reno was managing to do that with just one hand.

“You look good in my pants,” Reno said, sliding the sweatpants down to Cloud’s knees. “And even better outta them.”

His lips pressed against Reno’s mouth to silence him; Cloud was amazed at the things the Turk said to him sometimes. He seemed sincere, just powerfully amusing at the same time. Cloud pulled his pants and socks the rest of the way off, and caught Reno’s gaze as the Turk studied him. He would have given all of his gil to have known what Reno was thinking; the expression on the red-head’s face was positively sinful and yet beautifully wanton at the same time.

Cloud slid back down to where he’d been moments before, and slid his tongue across Reno’s stomach, just under his navel. He watched the Turk’s muscles flinch, anticipating where Cloud’s tongue was going next.

Making sure not to disappoint, Cloud timidly touched his tongue to the soft tip of Reno’s arousal. The Turk’s hips twitched and lifted off the bed in response, causing Cloud to have to take more of his length into his mouth. He shoved Reno back down gently, holding him against the mattress, wanting to do this at his own pace. Cloud had never been very good at trying to deep throat anything; his gag reflex was too strong, and had proven too difficult to ignore, so he had found other ways to make sure that he was satisfying his lover’s needs. Reno sighed and reached for Cloud, his fingers deliriously entangling in Cloud’s hair.

With agonizing slowness, Cloud inched his mouth down as far as he felt comfortable going, swirling his tongue against Reno, all the while searching for any spots that seemed sensitive. His eyes watched the Turk intently for any small response, and when he received one, he sucked a little harder and licked a little faster until Reno was writhing beneath him. One thing Cloud was discovering, was that Reno was not a quiet lover. The pleasured sounds the red-head was making had started out soft, but were gradually increasing in pitch and volume. Not much of what Reno was saying was understandable, but Cloud could figure out what he was trying to say well enough.

Reno bucked his hips rhythmically, his praises and elation rising feverishly. He had to be close, but Cloud wasn’t ready for him to come just yet. When Cloud pulled his mouth away from him, Reno jerked his head back against the pillow and groaned furiously, trying to convey his frustration.

“Why’d you stop,” Reno said. He tugged at Cloud’s hair, trying to encourage him to keep going.

“I thought you wanted me to fuck you,” Cloud said, rimming his tongue around Reno’s hardness lightly, teasing him.

“I do, but…” Reno said, his voice growling, “I don’t have any lube. All my stuff is downstairs in the dorms.”

“I’ve got some,” Cloud said, leaning over the bed and reaching for the small bag of stuff he had in the chair.

When Tseng had taken his clothes, he’d put all the things he’d had in his pockets in a small plastic bag, including the lube he’d stuffed in there earlier that day. No one had said anything to him about it, or seemed that interested in identifying each and every thing he’d been carrying, which he was thankful for. Cloud was happy that he had avoided that embarrassment.

“You what?” Reno said, sounding shocked.

“Look,” Cloud said, hovering over Reno once again. He held out the small plain bottle and Reno grabbed it from him, his eyes trying to focus on it in the dimly lit room. “It was in the basket you… uh… sent me. I thought I should bring it in case, you know…”

Suddenly, Reno let out a deep laugh and covered his eyes, “This is the singularly most boring thing I ordered for you.”

Cloud grabbed it from him and popped the lid open, squeezing a generous amount of the liquid into his hands. Doing the unexpected, he wrapped his hand around Reno’s throbbing hardness and slicked him with the gel, massaging him between his fingertips. Most of his saliva had already dried away, and Cloud wanted to make a quick point. Reno let out a thrilled yelp as he looked at Cloud with surprise.

“Most boring perhaps, but also most necessary,” Cloud said, adding more of the lube to his fingers, before sending his digits exploring into the darkness. “I don’t need that other stuff.”

Reno spread his legs wide and lifted himself up off the bed just enough to allow him easier access. Reno seemed to be incredibly flexible and it sent Cloud’s amazed and startled mind wandering into the land of possibilities. Now wasn’t the time, but the thought of things they might be able to do together in the future turned him on immensely.

As he found Reno’s opening, the Turk wiggled against his fingers, eager and breathless to get on with it. Cloud carefully inserted his index finger, gently stretching Reno, who seemed to be rather overwhelmed and not entirely present for the process. That seemed to change as Cloud inserted his second finger, and began pushing them in and out at a steady pace. He reached his middle finger inside deeply, moving in ever-widening circular motions, feeling for the spot that would most please his lover.

“Ahhh, fuck,” Reno said, moaning his approval as Cloud found what he was looking for.

Cloud continued stimulating Reno with his fingers for a few minutes, watching him intently as the red-head slipped further and further into a state of agonized bliss, until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He was so painfully aroused, he knew that as soon as they started fucking he’d have to hold himself back with every ounce of willpower he possessed just to make sure he didn’t ruin things for both of them.

He withdrew his fingers and grabbed the small bottle again, coating himself with the cool gel. Cloud inhaled a deep breath as he rubbed himself, while staring at Reno’s flushed cheeks and willing expression. Reno’s lower lip pushed out, pouting impatiently as he watched Cloud readying himself. Cloud leaned down, nibbling briefly on Reno’s lips as he guided himself toward Reno’s entrance.

He paused, searching Reno’s face, trying to make sure that the red-head hadn’t changed his mind. The Turk’s eyes locked with his and he thrust his body forward, giving Cloud the answer he’d been silently searching for. Reno eased Cloud inside without much effort, grunting and pulling him forward with his hand wrapped around the blond’s side. Cloud gasped as the sensation of Reno’s tight walls around him incited him to close his eyes; a warmth kindled in his groin as he steadily pressed himself into Reno’s body, inch by agonizing inch.

Once inside so deeply that he could go no further, Cloud withdrew just as slowly. Reno pulled him forward again eagerly colliding his hips with Cloud’s as he tried to encourage a rhythmical motion. They struggled with this for a moment, neither one wanting to let the other determine the exact pace, until Reno finally relented to Cloud, allowing him to be the one to rock their bodies together.

Reno was making unintelligible sounds again, his voice raising minutely with each thrust Cloud made. Reno’s breathing was ragged and beads of sweat had formed on his forehead and chest. Cloud reached up to smooth Reno’s bangs out of his eyes, and was surprised when those eyes opened and stared back at him with a ferocious glimmer of desperation.

“Make me come, Cloud,” Reno said breathlessly.

Fire rippled through Cloud’s stomach, jolting down his body making his skin tingle. Reno’s words were an electrifying turn on and he struggled not to lose himself just yet. He wrapped his fingers around Reno’s length, jerking him firmly, keeping with the same rhythm as his thrusts.

A strange sound started within Reno’s throat that made Cloud think that he was starting to cry, but instead a laugh boiled to the surface and he screamed Cloud’s name amid a flurry of other incomprehensible words. Warmth spilled over Cloud’s hand as Reno’s orgasm caused his body to jerk uncontrollably. With a rolling shudder, Reno pushed Cloud’s hand away from him and pulled the blond’s face toward his own.

“Now you,” Reno said, whispering hotly in Cloud’s ear.

It’s not that Cloud needed any encouragement, nor did he need permission, but the simple fact remained that there was something about the way he felt about Reno that caused him to want to give him what he was demanding right at that moment. As the words faded from the Turk’s mouth, Cloud gasped with elated surprise. Intense sensations plowed through his groin that spread throughout his entire body and he released himself deep within his lover, thrusting excitedly over and over again as his body twitched and seemed to have a mind of its own.

Finally spent, Cloud collapsed wearily next to Reno once he was able to calm himself down enough to do so. The Turk wordlessly touched his lips to Cloud’s, dipping his tongue in and out of the blond’s open and panting mouth affectionately. A bead of saliva stretched between the two of them as Reno pulled away and tucked his head against Cloud’s chest. Cloud wrapped his arms around Reno and they lay together quietly, neither able to say anything at all.

Cloud glanced at the window and noted with some dismay that the sun was starting to rise. It was no longer dark outside, and the mixed contrasting colors of twilight were starting to flood the eastern sky. Surely someone would be checking on Reno soon, and they’d likely be separated. As much as the thought saddened him, he couldn’t help but allow the joy he was feeling to be the stronger emotion.

He thought about how he had ended up where he was at this moment, and a soft smile danced across his lips. The journey had been unexpected, but certainly not unwelcome. Not only had he formed a lasting friendship, but that friend had turned out to be a bit more important to him than he’d ever imagined. He looked down at Reno and realized that the Turk was sleeping soundly against him. Not wanting to wake him, Cloud gently pulled the covers over both of them, pausing for a moment when he saw his red ribbon hiding in between a fold in the sheets.

He picked up the ribbon and silently thanked Aerith and Zack for whatever guidance they’d given both of them. Cloud was a little surprised at how easy it was for him to admit that Reno had been right so long ago; that it really was time for him to move on.

Cloud gathered Reno’s long ponytail into his fingers carefully, trying not to disturb him. He wrapped the ribbon around his flowing hair, and tied it securely, trying not to chuckle at how silly the bow looked as it contrasted sharply against the Turk’s fiery hair. He wasn’t sure exactly how Reno came to be in possession of the ribbon, but it didn’t matter; he could keep it. As far as Cloud was concerned, Reno had earned it.

Reno stirred, making a soft contented sound, but didn’t wake. For the first time in forever, Cloud allowed himself to drift off to sleep, without any regrets.

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A/N: Please review, and be kind. ^_^ (Well, everyone, I know it may be tough to believe, but this is the final chapter to this story. There will be an epilogue, and then... it will be complete. More author thoughts to follow after the epilogue. Hopefully you will be back to read it soon. It's been fun for me, hopefully for everyone reading as well. *hugs everyone* ^^)