Aftermath

Author’s Note: In case anyone was wondering, I aim to complete one chapter a week. It's all my schedule will allow me. And now... it's time for a little M/M fluff. Enjoy.

Thank you to...
- Youkofox, for your beta help, and encouragement. *blush*
- Squallfan, for your review. I'm thinking you might like this chapter...
- Iggy Lovechild, for your review and insights, as usual. It's like you just read my mind.

Reviews are indefinitely appreciated! I like receiving email, and always answer any friendly contact, so feel free to drop me a line. I just got a LJ last week, my page can be found at http://sterlingwriter.livejournal.com/ if you just want to stop by and say hello.

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Chapter 4: Noticing

As soon as Reno sat down behind him on his bike, Cloud began wondering if it had been a good idea to offer the Turk a ride to Healin. Reno’s hands had instantly attached themselves to his sides, but it didn’t feel like the red-head was holding on. It felt like he was . . . touching him. Reno hadn’t tried to put any distance in between their bodies, either. The red-head’s inner thighs and knees were firmly pressed against Cloud’s hips and legs. Not even Tifa clung to him like this when they rode together.

Reno was taller by a few inches and most of it seemed to be leg length, judging by the way his knees jutted out beside him. Cloud waited a brief moment for the Turk to find a comfortable place to put his feet, and then he put his riding glasses on. Cloud adjusted his lenses, and started the bike’s ignition.

Cloud’s grip on the accelerator tightened and he urged the bike forward. They fishtailed to the side, as rocky shards of concrete spit out from under the back tire. The bike lurched forward, and they thudded onto the road. Cloud gave the bike even more gas, and soon they were up to speed, and heading toward the outskirts of Edge.

He felt Reno’s left hand leave his side for just a moment, and he briefly looked over his shoulder to make sure the Turk was alright. Cloud saw Reno pull his goggles down over his eyes for the first time ever. Reno smiled at him and gave him a thumbs-up, and Cloud turned his attention back to the road, wordlessly shaking his head.

Reno leaned forward, resting his cheek on the back of Cloud’s shoulder. Cloud tensed up momentarily, and his eyebrows arched, forming a line across his forehead as he tried to figure out what the Turk was doing behind him. Why was Reno so comfortable with him all of a sudden? It’s not like he’d encouraged this kind of behavior, had he? He thought back to the previous night at the club, and remembered that Reno had seemed very at ease with him then as well, and hadn’t made a big deal out of it.

It seemed so odd to Cloud that a former enemy could be acting so casually toward him. Sure, he’d done a couple odd jobs for Reno over the years, and they’d worked together to defeat the remnants only a few weeks ago. Cloud had a hard time accepting that their tentative alliance had really been enough to erase everything that had happened between them over the last decade.

Cloud didn’t like dwelling on the past, but he got caught up in thinking about it much too often. He wondered if there was a simple explanation. Maybe Reno was just happy they weren’t trying to kill each other anymore. He supposed that it was possible the Turk was able to just let go of the past that quickly, and let bygones be bygones. Cloud wished he could do the same.

Cloud imagined that Reno wasn’t feeling any better yet. His hangover was probably still affecting him, causing that headache he had mentioned earlier and who knows what else. They were moving along at a fast rate of speed; it couldn’t hurt for the Turk to hang on tightly just in case his balance was off. Not to mention, Reno was probably exhausted. He’d only gotten a few hours of sleep, so maybe he was catching a quick snooze on the ride over.

Cloud considered Reno’s motivations for a bit longer, wondering if he was reading too much into it, and finally came to the decision that it didn’t really matter. After all, he wasn’t hating the attention. He was just a little confused by it, which was to be expected, since he hadn’t really allowed anyone to get close to him in a long time. Not that it was entirely his fault. Everyone walked around him on eggshells, as if waiting for him to relapse into something unspoken. He really wished people would just say what they thought of him sometimes.

Cloud jumped reflexively, as he felt Reno’s soft cheek slide gently across the back of his neck. The red-head’s cold nose tucked into Cloud’s hair, and bumped up behind his ear. Chills coursed across Cloud’s neck, networking down his sides, stopping where Reno’s hands had a firm grip on him. He was just about to turn around to tell Reno to knock it off, when he heard the Turk’s voice in his ear.

“So how long does it take to get to Healin on this thing?”

“Depends on how fast you want to go,” Cloud said, his head turned over his shoulder.

Reno let out a surprised sounding chuckle, and began to convulse with what seemed like uncontrollable laughter. Annoyed, Cloud wasn’t sure what the red-head thought was so funny. He figured that all the alcohol Reno had been drinking had done something strange to the Turk’s mind; whatever brain cells he had left were on overload.

Cloud tried to ignore his strange passenger. The road would be changing soon, turning to dirt and gravel and would take additional skill to navigate. Just a few more miles, and he could drop the Turk off, and get started on his deliveries.

Cloud’s thoughts were interrupted, as he spied something ahead in the distance. In the middle of the road, stood a giant mutated plant with fangs. The plant must have seen or heard their approach. The green monstrosity spread its twitching tentacled leaves out to the side as if inviting them to try and avoid the trap.

“Ah, shit,” Cloud said. “There’s a malboro in the road.”

“Just go around it,” Reno said, his voice muffled by Cloud’s dark blue sweater.

Cloud considered Reno’s suggestion, but he decided he didn’t like that idea. The plant had a good position, blocking the road at a particularly narrow passageway between jagged rocks. Going around the plant was probably out; he didn’t want to blow a tire. Cloud was pretty sure he could pull the bike up into the air high enough that he could vault over the disgusting plant, but then that would leave it there to prey on the next person who happened to be passing by. Whether Reno liked it or not, Cloud decided that they would be better off destroying it.

Cloud ran his finger over a small hidden button under the bike’s left handle, and Fenrir’s weapon rack opened up. He quickly pulled out his base blade and twisted the handle, causing the blade to expand. He switched on Fenrir’s cruise control, and grabbed his second blade. With practiced ease, he snapped the two blades together, and pointed the partially constructed sword toward the plant blocking his path.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Reno seemed more alert now, and Cloud felt both of the Turk’s hands leave his sides. He glanced over his shoulder, and saw Reno trying to get his E.M.R. unstuck from its harness. Reno gritted his teeth, and pulled at his suit, and the weapon freed itself. Cloud saw the red-head thumb a switch at the base of his weapon, and watched as a familiar crackle of energy rolled down the rod’s metal shaft. Reno waved his weapon dangerously close to Cloud’s head.

“Watch it!” Cloud said, yelling over the wind that roared through his ears.

Reno didn’t seem to be listening. He was muttering something quietly to himself over and over again. Cloud could barely hear him. Then he realized that Reno was working on casting a spell. Cloud found himself wondering where the red-head was stashing his materia.

The Turk straightened his back and stood up a few inches off the bike’s seat, bracing himself against the wind. With his knees bent, Reno leaned his body heavily against Cloud’s for support. He fanned his arms out in front of his chest, waving his E.M.R. in a calculated circle. His hands pushed forward, using his weapon to aim his spell as if it were an inverted lightning rod. A jagged blue lightning bolt sprung forward and scored a direct hit on the menacing plant in front of them. Black smoke rose from the plant. The lightning spell had done some serious damage.

Reno sat back down, still leaning against Cloud’s back. The blond knew from first hand experience just how draining using materia could be, but he didn’t have time to make sure that Reno hadn’t overexerted himself. Time was of the essence, and the distance between the monster and the bike was quickly closing.

“Hold on!”

The Turk’s fingers gripped the blond’s sides tightly, just a moment before Cloud leaned his weight to the side. Steering hard to the left, he swung Fenrir around broadside, and cut in front of the malboro. The mutated plant’s fangs mashed together angrily. It’s tentacles reached for the bike, but it was too slow.

Cloud swung his sword down in a wide arc, and cleaved the beast into two pieces. Calculating where he wanted it to land, he threw his blade forward and up into the air: high enough that it would be out of his way for a few seconds. Cloud straightened the bike, gave it a bit more gas, and pulled up on the handles with fervor. Fenrir launched into the air, and soared over the smoldering remains of the defeated plant.

Cloud turned off the cruise control, and slid the bike to a stop. He lifted his hand to catch his sword as it returned from the sky, and then paused to make sure that the monster truly was dead. Neither man spoke, as they sat still listening to the thrumming roar of the bike’s idling engine. Finally, they watched the plant disappear from the road. Fenrir’s weapon rack opened, and Cloud disassembled his sword, placing both pieces back into their metal sheaths.

“Those things smell fuckin’ awful,” Reno said, his nose wrinkled in disgust. “We’re lucky it didn’t spray us. That smell lingers for weeks.”

“You would know, right?”

“Not funny, Cloud,” Reno said, clearly suppressing a grin.

“Feeling better?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Well, good. We’re almost to the lodge,” Cloud said.

As they arrived at Healin, Cloud couldn’t quite process or mask the disappointment he was feeling. Even though Reno had annoyed him a little as usual, Cloud had to admit that he was enjoying the Turk’s company. Once the red-head went off to work, he’d be alone again, until he completed his own work for the day. At least he had his makeshift family to look forward to seeing when he finished up. Cloud killed Fenrir’s engine, and looked back over his shoulder at Reno.

“Get off.”

“Hey, I’m goin’. No need to get edgy.”

Reno swung himself off of Cloud’s bike. He pushed his goggles up into their normal position above his eyes. He didn’t bother to take a single step before immediately digging out his cigarettes, nor did he waste any time lighting one up.

Cloud leaned the bike on its kickstand. He stood up, still straddling Fenrir, eager to have a moment to stretch his legs and back. Cloud dismounted the bike and leaned back, feeling something in his back pop pleasantly. He looked up at the lodge, suddenly sensing that he was being watched. His eyes settled on a window near the top floor, where the curtain was hastily pulled shut. Cloud didn’t want to linger here for very long if he didn’t have to.

“So, Cloud,” Reno said, his voice low and drawling. “I got a question for you.”

“Mhm?”

“I mean, I couldn’t help but wonder somethin’ about your deliveries.”

Cloud looked at Reno, trying to be patient. Reno was being deliberately slow; Cloud was sure of it. He resisted the urge to take the bait and demand that the Turk just spit out whatever he was trying to ask.

“Where'd you put the boxes you’re dropping off? I ain’t seen any since we left.”

The boxes! In his haste to escort Reno to Healin, he had forgotten all about the packages and letters sitting in his office. Cloud’s stomach tightened up in a nervous knot. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he realized he didn’t want to admit any of that to Reno. He opened his mouth to speak, swallowing dryly as his nervous throat threatened to close up on him, then he caught Reno’s gaze.

Reno was staring at him with those intense eyes of his, his wind-tossed hair framing his face playfully and a cocky grin splayed across his lips. He took a long drag of his cigarette, wearing a knowing expression on his face.

“Ah, hell,” Cloud said, finally able to speak. The Turk already knew.

“Forgot them, huh?”

“Well, it was either you or the boxes, I guess,” Cloud said, weakly offering an explanation in his defense.

Reno casually dropped his half-smoked cigarette to the ground, not bothering to snuff it out. The Turk moved closer to Cloud, putting his lips in close proximity to the blond’s ear.

“I thought you might’ve forgotten them on purpose, yo,” Reno said, his voice taking on a deeply sensuous tone.

Cloud blinked, surprised by what Reno seemed to be implying. He had indeed forgotten the packages; this was true. Had he forgotten them on purpose? Cloud had to admit that his memory might have prevented him from remembering on a subconscious level. Cloud didn’t feel compelled to confirm or deny Reno’s assumption, but when it came right down to it, he would have rather had the Turk on the back of his bike than those damned packages.

Reno touched Cloud’s chin and his thumb glided gently over the blond’s lips. His fingers were surprisingly warm for having been exposed to the air for the last half hour. Cloud didn’t flinch, or pull away. He was so locked inside his own mind, trying to understand what he was thinking and feeling about this whole situation, that he didn’t quite react to the Turk’s sudden closeness. His face remained thoughtful, and he tried to think of another excuse he could use.

“But, I. . .”

“It’s alright. I’m cool with that,” Reno said, pulling his whispering mouth dangerously close to Cloud’s flushed cheek.

The Turk touched his lips to Cloud’s so lightly that the blond wasn’t even sure there had been contact. It was a timid touch; one that seemed to be searching for receptiveness or a reaction of any kind. Cloud couldn’t believe that Reno could be so gentle. The thought both excited and confused him in ways he wasn’t in any condition to understand. Even more perplexing, was the unmistakable voice in his head that screamed for the Turk to touch him like that again. When had he decided that it was acceptable to be kissing Reno?

“Reno. . .”

“I can stop, if you want me to,” Reno said breathlessly. His voice wavered, and he continued, “but I would be horribly fuckin’ disappointed.”

Something about the way Reno was speaking caused a reaction from Cloud. The mixture of desire and desperation coming from the Turk was a surprising turn on. He’d never seen Reno like this before nor had he ever considered that Reno was even interested in him. Just how long had Reno been thinking about this moment?

Cloud knew that it was his choice now. He could say no, and Reno would back off, maybe forever. Cloud hesitated. He hadn’t had the opportunity to be this close to anyone in such a long time. Fear gripped him in that dark place where he usually hid himself from the world, and he began to pull away from Reno.

“Cloud?”

Reno opened his eyes, his thick lashes sweeping across his cyan gaze. Cloud could plainly see hardened disappointment starting to form on the Turk’s face. In a rare moment of clarity, Cloud was able to comprehend the seriousness of what was going on between the two of them. He wasn’t being asked to dance, he was being asked to feel. If he said no, there wouldn’t be another chance to say yes.

Cloud felt Reno drifting away. He was losing him. Cloud reached out and grabbed the Turk’s wrist before he could turn away completely.

“Don’t stop. I want to feel—“

Cloud didn’t manage to get his full thought out before his lips were swept up against Reno’s in a firm, devouring embrace. Cloud returned the Turk’s kiss, making a conscious effort to temporarily relinquish control of the situation. He wanted to see just how intense Reno’s feelings were for him and what the Turk might do when allowed to take the lead.

Not missing a beat, Reno pressed his body up against Cloud’s eagerly, and his fingers burrowed into the blond’s soft spiky hair. Cloud wrapped his arms around Reno’s waist tightly, encouraging the closeness. He felt the tip of Reno’s ponytail graze his hand, and he found himself liking the fact that the Turk’s hair trailed so far down his back.

Reno’s tongue darted into Cloud’s mouth and back out again, taking him by surprise. Reno tasted just like his clove cigarettes smelled: spicy and sweet, with a hint of something decadent and unidentifiable hiding beneath the surface. The Turk continued to dot Cloud’s lips with soft playful kisses, until they were once again locked in a solid open-mouthed embrace. Feeling overwhelmed, and worried about where this could lead, Cloud loosened his hold on the red-head’s waist, and gave Reno’s cheek a gentle nudge with his nose. As they parted, a whispering sigh escaped Cloud’s lips; it felt good to feel wanted, even though it scared the shit out of him.

“Damn. It’s too bad you weren’t into this last night,” Reno said with a grin.

“You were drunk,” Cloud said.

“Wouldn’t have mattered.”

Cloud pushed a lock of red hair out of Reno’s eyes with his fingertips, and watched in fascination as it slid right back into place. He looked up at the lodge, remembering suddenly that Reno needed to report in for work. He glanced at the top floor window again, briefly wondering if someone really had been spying on them. He noticed that those same curtains that had been hastily closed were now slightly parted again. Cloud didn’t like the idea that someone might have seen them together, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it now.

“You should go.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m just thinkin’ that if I walk away right now, that you might forget all about this.”

“I won’t forget,” Cloud said.

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A/N: Well, there you go. I guess it was about time for a little fluff. Please review, and be kind. ^_^