Those Three Little Words

This is the mission you have been waiting for. This is the chance that has been denied to you for 5 months. Tseng has finally given you the okay to go after the men who took everything away from you.

It’s a simple get in and get out kind of deal that has no affiliation with the ShinRa name. Because even though Rude failed to come home he completed his mission. It’s you and Tseng and a night of retribution.

You look over at the man who has paired himself off with you since you still won’t take on another partner. He doesn’t often take on field missions but when he does they are usually the big ones. You are curious to know if the President put his seal of approval on this or if Tseng is doing this all on his own. It’s not company time, but you know the “little boss” doesn’t leave Rufus’ side unless he absolutely has too. You think perhaps there is something more going on there is common knowledge, but somehow don’t feel right asking.

He briefs you on the details as you fly “Betty” to your destination. Rude laughed at you when you told him the name of the helicopter and he nearly died of laughter when you explained that “Betty” was different from all the rest and deserved a name. She’s the only one you fly. It’s a commited relationship.

Tseng tries to tell you no stupid stunts and to stay together but the moment you land and secure “Betty” your off. You are vaguely aware of him being behind you but this is all for you. All for Rude.

It’s a blur of broken bones and blood, so much so that you aren’t even aware of what belongs to who. Only that if they get in your way they get dead. You don’t normally go for a gun. You prefer your EMR. But this is quicker. You’ll save that zapping for when you find the one’s responsible, Peons get shot, and the ones in charge are going to get beat.

You know Tseng is still behind you, a silent partner who only steps in when it’s needed. You watch him briefly because he is the art of death personified. No wasted movements, no needless words, it’s either the splatter of a hollow tip or the clean slice of a blade.

And then you see him. You know it’s him because all bad guys have this aura about them. It usually starts with poor hygiene and awful fashion sense, but this guy has the hair too.

He asks you what your business is and you just smile. You tell him this is about loosing something important.
He says he can compensate, give you what ever you want. You tell him there isn’t enough money to replace what you’ve lost.
He says if it was a woman there are plenty out back. You’re seething by now and when you tell him it was a man something must have tipped him off because he starts getting smart mouthed. Tseng tells you to remain calm, but your past that now and when the man calls Rude a waste and says death was all he deserved your on him without a thought.

You don’t even bother with your EMR because your gun is still in hand and it works so much better when beating a man to death. You have expect Tseng to stop you, but he doesn’t, no one does and long after the man is dead and your still going you begin to cry. The first real tears since Tseng told you Rude is dead.

You’re covered in blood and gore and the man’s skull is busted and unrecognizable, but you haven’t stopped because the tears are still falling. And with the tears comes the sobbing and your choking on the words but you can’t help it because you love Rude…and no matter how many times you say it and how many times you bring your fists down he isn’t coming back.
Hands grab you from behind and you are fighting them because the fucker hasn’t paid enough, he hasn’t suffered enough for what he’s done. The voice in your ear says he’s dead and nothing you do can change that. He suffered and now it’s over. The hands cover yours and take the gun putting it aside. They hold you close and offer words of comfort against your ear. They apologize over and over for the past and wish they could take it back.

They entwine there fingers with yours and lips kiss the side of your face. It’s then that you realize two things. Tseng’s hands are larger than yours and his hands are darker than the rest of him. Maybe it’s just the fact that your eyes are puffy and blurry. That your body, though comforted by the presence behind you is shaking, fits perfectly against his strong chest.
Your face scrunches up and you wipe it against the sleeve of your jacket. The voice is back again and it’s deeper this time. It says what you’ve longed to hear from the beginning and coming from the lips of the one behind you it seems almost cruel because you’re pretty sure your dead too.

So you let go of his hands and turn to face him. Your eyes are closed and ask him to say it again. To keep up the illusion for a few moments longer. You can pretend for a bit that it’s ending the way it should. And when the hands move over your arms in a comforting manner and lips ghost across yours, you actually smile a real smile despite the tears that are still falling. A hand wipes at your cheek and Tseng tells you to open your eyes and you do.

You breathe in deeply and reach into your pocket. The shades you never could put down lay in the palm of your hand. Your breath hitches and your let out a tiny sob as you place them on his face. It’s so perfect and it’s so right that before you know what you’re doing you’ve thrown yourself in his arms and are kissing him. You know he’s hurt from the sounds he makes and when you try to pull away he holds you’re tighter and begs you not to move.

Tseng closes his eyes in contentment, because for once things have gone as planned and whatever reprimands await him back home mean nothing. He takes out his phone and moves back to speak to a voice that scolds him for leaving unannounced, but when Tseng looks to Reno with a smile and says those three little words he is thanked and told to come home. Because…

Rude is alive