Hopes Despair

I just wanna start off by saying Sorry all who love Reno's red hair (I love it but ... well you'll find out)

Chapter 9

I watched as the trees swirled past as we drove alone a long deserted street. Every now and again Tseng would look over with worry in his face, always starting to talk yet never forming any words. I would just glance over and give a weak smile, then return to staring out the window.
“Are you cold? Would you like me to put the heater on for you?” Tseng shortly glanced over, a weak smile on his face.
“Where are we going?”
Tseng turned back to the road I noticed that he begun to tense up his jaw. “I’m not really sure” his eye fixed ahead.
“Thank you” was the only thing I could think of to say.
Tseng glanced over a slight smile of relief “You’re welcome Reno”
I turned back to the window, curled myself up into a ball and closed my eyes. Tseng glanced over brushing the hair away from my face as he gently stroked my face. I slipped into a soft sleep drifting away to the soft hum of the car and the warmth of Tseng stroking my face.

I was finally stirred from my sleep from a gentle swaying motion I opened my eyes realising that Tseng was carrying me along a dirt path. “Don’t worry Reno, just go back to sleep” Tseng spoke.
I stirred again as I felt something warm covering me I was in a dimly lit room, I could hear Tseng moving around. The air filled by a sweet scent that I could not place. A moment later, I heard Tseng walk into the room, moving around in the dim light like a cat.
“I’m awake you don’t have to creep around”
Tseng turned around gracefully as he stepped towards me. “So you are Reno. So you are”
He knelt down beside the bed staring at me, the dim light highlighting a look of appreciation. “Are you hungry? I made some porridge” even in the lack of light I could see Tseng’s face redden from embarrassment.
“Sounds good to me” I smiled back, reassuring him that he shouldn’t be embarrassed.
Tseng nodded to himself as he slowly raised himself, it was then that I realised that Tseng had been bleeding. I reached out to touch the blood stain when Tseng instinctively grabbed my arm “Don’t touch me!” his eye cold and hard “Reno don’t worry about me” his eyes softening slightly. He slowly moved towards the door holding the side of his rib “There’s nothing for you to worry about” with a brief smile he disappeared from the room. I sat upright with worry and confusion ‘what had happened whilst I had been asleep’ I looked around trying to figure out where I was. Spinning towards the edge of the bed I dangled my feet over the side, wondering why porridge always smelt good after a deep sleep. I could hear Tseng moving about quietly ‘damn how can he always be so quiet’ I lowered my feet to the floor stretching out like an ungraceful hyena. Walking to the doorway I stubbed my toe on nothing, I let a small whimper (actually a really girly scream) which brought Tseng racing to the room “Reno are you ok?” panic in his voice
I nodded my head using all my effort to refrain from swearing. “I just stubbed my ‘bleep’ toe” I pouted like a child as I rubbed my big toe.
“For crying out loud Reno, the way you screamed the world would have thought you were being murdered” Stoic as ever.
‘Ok yes I did scream like a girl when they see a pair of shoe on sale’ I blushed as I attempted shamefully to divert his attention away from my throbbing toe “Hey what’s that…?” I pointed at the wall diverting Tseng’s attention to look at my phantom distraction I bolted ‘ok hobbled’ past him. I was halfway to the kitchen when I felt his hand grab hold of my shoulder “Very funny Reno” Tseng spun me round “Doesn’t change the fact you sounded like …” I cut him off with a trademark Reno grin Tseng formed an ever so subtle smirk “You must be hungry” he began to push me backwards towards the kitchen, when I suddenly fell backwards knocking myself out.
When I regained consciousness I was stretched out in front of an open fire, a light blanket covering my lower torso. I watched the flames flicker for a moment, before I realised that the top half of my body was naked, the flames warming my pale skin. I shot up into an upright sitting position, I lifted up the blanket to confirm that I was still partially clothed ‘thank god, I was still wearing boxers’ I let out a relieved sigh. I looked around the room, making out a lounge and coffee table being highlighted by the glow from the fire, behind the lounge I could see a doorway illuminated by a pale light. I rubbed my head for a moment before deciding to look for Tseng ‘man my head fuckin hurts’ as I ran my hand through my head I realised that my hair seemed a lot shorter “Fuck! My hair! Who cut my hair” I began to tremble from shock.
“What’s going on?” Tseng came rushing into the room, wearing an adorable apron “Reno are you ok?” Tseng walked over cautiously, trying not to bump into anything in the dim light. I held my head stroking what was left of my beautiful red hair, I began to sob as I realised that it was definitely gone. Tseng knelt down beside me watching me silently never taking his eyes off me. “Probably isn’t a good time to tell you that you’re hair is now black?” I looked up to see Tseng’s stoic look, I began to mouth my anguish when I heard a ‘ding’. Tseng suddenly jumped up “sorry but the dinner is going to burn” with that he left the room disappearing from my sight, so there I was left in complete shock and anguish. After what seemed like a century I finally gathered my thoughts and emotions, I slowly stood up letting the blanket fall from my lower torso. I looked around for my shirt with no luck, giving up on walking into the hall fully clothed I slowly manoeuvred around the furniture making my way towards the doorway.
The air had a sweet scent that seemed intoxicating I followed my senses towards the source of the desired bounty walking in a trance towards the kitchen. When I finally snapped out of my daydream of swimming in the sweet smell I realised that Tseng had been watching me with a slight smile on his face. “Glad to see that my cooking meets with the approval of your senses” I gave him a sheepish smile
“I’m a … going to the toilet”


Tseng ushered me towards the lounge room, walking quietly behind me his hand covering my eyes. “Watch yourself Reno, we don’t want you to stub your other toe” his tone more mocking then a mocking bird.
“Shut up” I shot back. In the back of my mind I had begun praying that I didn’t stub my toe again. We weaved around the lounge Tseng never taking his hand from my back as he carefully guided me, from the warmth I guessed that we were close to the fire. Tseng stepped back removing his hand from my eyes, I opened my eyes slowly and was greeted by Tseng kneeling down. My mouth dropped open as I realised that Tseng had laid out a romantic picnic beside the open fire.
“When did you do this?” I asked stunned
He pointed to my hair “When you were crying in the bathroom” stoically with a slight smirk at the end. “Sit down Reno” reaching out he took hold of my hand, softly pulling me down to a sitting position. “I’m sorry about having to change your hair” softly stroking my matted hair “You look … it’s very cute” he smile softly as he leaned in and kissed me tenderly on the lips. I breathed in his sweet scent, loosing myself in the rush of desire it stirred up inside me. I returned the kiss with more intensity then had been intended, Tseng almost fell backwards from the shift in pressure. I caught him into my arms as I drew in closer to position myself better, I held him close to my chest as I reluctantly released the sensual hold of his redden lips. We both looked upon each other with admiration as we tried to regain our breath “I love you Tseng” I watched his face as I let what I had just declared settle in. Tseng looked at me for a moment with consideration then turned towards the fire “Don’t … Why do … Reno how can you?” his face blanketed in mixed emotions “I am your boss. You can’t love me” his face suddenly turned solemn as he turned back to me “I appreciate that you have the courage to admit your feelings towards me” he gently caressed my cheek “But I can’t …before in the elevator …” I cut him off with a soft kiss, I leaned in resting my head on his shoulder “I don’t expect you to” I whispered into his ear, Tseng wrapped his arms around me bringing me into a deep embrace. “Thank you Reno” Tseng softly sobbed “Thank you for understanding” I ran my hand through his hair soothingly with tears of joy swelling up in my eyes.