Shades of Veridian

***A/N: This story evolved from the simple idea of a conversation and took shape from there. I loved writing every moment of it, which I think shows. I've been debating making it a mult-part story, or whether to just continue to my next project. Please, let me know what you think. ^_^***

***Reno***

“Meteor...”

“We've been over that, already. What's it called?”

“Meteor.”

“I understand it's a fucking meteor, what's its name?”

“METEOR!” the ShinRa president barked, his ice-blue eyes burning into me. I nodded, shifting uncomfortably in my seat under his piercing gaze. Almost immediately I regretted it. I gritted my teeth, suppressing a wince. I sometimes forgot that my entire midsection was bandaged underneath my clothes.

“Do we have a plan?” I heard myself asking. Business...it was always back to business. Never mind the fact that I had been shot. And stabbed. And nearly sliced in half when I jumped from a fourteen story building into the waiting helicopter. Then there was the matter of several thousand tons of city that nearly crushed me. But no, sure boss, tell me that after living through all of that I'm now going to die because of a giant space rock. Fucking brilliant.

Almost absentmindedly I flicked open my lighter and held my cigarette to the flame. “Heidegger and Scarlet seem to think so...” Rufus sighed, looking at the sea below. “But I'm not so sure. I haven't had decent advice since...” the blond trailed off, putting a hand on the glass as he lowered his head. I had to squint to see him clearly through the reddish glow of sunset streaming through the bank of windows.

I watched him through the glare, listening to the tinge of sadness filling his voice. I shook my head. “We all miss him, sir.” And god, how I missed Tseng. His walk. His smile. The way he screamed at me when he caught me smoking in the stairwell...well, maybe not that part.

“That's different, Reno, and you know it.”

“Is it? He was my fucking friend, sir. He was a hard ass and a perfectionist, but I didn't love him any less for it.” In fact it endeared him to me. I had seen hell with that raven-haired man by my side. And I thought he'd always be there. A mute nod to my left informed me that Rude agreed. My day was now complete.

Rufus chuckled. “He always seemed to know how to make the best of a difficult decision, did he not? All I can do is make people fear me...”

“Don't be so hard on yourself, sir.” Elena said cheerfully. I watched the newbie, surprised she had worked up the courage to speak. I half shrugged to myself. We were all doing things we never thought possible these days.

“I have to. No one else will.”

“No one but him, you mean.” I expelled a cloud of smoke from my lungs as I leaned back against the soft leather. Rufus nodded mutely as he sank into the chair across from me.

“AVALANCHE will try and stop us, you know...” the brilliant sunlight framed the young president in a crimson halo, giving a surreal cast to his appearance. He looked like an avenging angel then, his jaw clenched and determination written on his features.

“Let 'em try...I got a present for 'em...” I smiled, taking another drag from my cigarette.

“Don't underestimate Cloud...”

“Do you know how many fucking bandages I have? I know what that spiky-haired bastard's capable of.” Rufus glared then, an action that made my grin broaden even further.

“We'll get him, sir...” the bald-headed fountain of wisdom next to me made himself heard.

“We will, sir...” Elena nodded her agreement, balling her hand into a fist and pressing it into her palm.

“See that you do...” the president tossed his head, blond locks shifting slightly. “Dismissed.”

Rude and Elena rose to their feet and strode out of the council chamber, the heavy metal door hissing shut behind them. I remained where I was, feet propped up and twisted in my chair.

“What part...of 'dismissed' escaped your attention?” Rufus said slowly, his eyes locked with mine.

“I heard you. I just didn't give a damn.”

Rufus laughed, the ice intensifying in his eyes. “You presume too much.”

“I loved him too, you know...” I closed my eyes and extinguished the cigarette in the crystal ashtray. There. It was said. Now comes the awkward silence. I raised my eyes and took in the sight of the empty chair across from me. Tseng's chair. I sighed. How the hell were we going to get through this without him?

I hissed in pain as I felt the fingers dig into my bruised shoulders. I let my legs slide off the desk as my chair was turned. Hesitantly I stared at Rufus' face, mere inches from mine. “What do you know of love, Reno?” the blond growled.

“Enough to know you're being a cold bastard...” I replied, locking my eyes with his.

“I have to be... My position depends on fear, Reno. I can't let my personal feelings get in the way.”

“He wasn't a personal feeling, Rufus... He was a person.”

“Don't you THINK I KNOW THAT?” Rufus yelled, climbing the steps to the window. “DON'T YOU THINK I WANTED TO YELL? TO SCREAM? TO LET MY PAIN OUT AT THE TOP OF MY GODDAMN LUNGS!”

I watched in silence as he ran a hand through his hair. “But that is not permitted of a leader. I have to be strong. I have to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. I have to be something...other than human.” the tears welled in his eyes as he leaned against the glass, hands clenched at his sides.

The doors hissed open, admitting a squad of troopers, ready to open fire on any aggressor. “I told you my meeting was not to be interrupted...” Rufus fixed his gaze on the ranking trooper in the lone green uniform. “Get out.”

“We..ah...heard shouting, sir.” the officer's muffled voice squeaked through the gas-mask.

“GET OUT!” Blue uniformed bodies went sprawling as the guards tripped over each other in their haste to exit the room. I watched Rufus as he started toward me again, his eyes lacking their earlier heat. Only sadness remained in those lapis pools. I elected to stand, bringing the two of us face to face. “You've...you've seen what only...”

“Tseng saw...” I finished, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. I had seen through the tough exterior and glimpsed the real Rufus ShinRa. Not the cold, inhuman monster the world saw on television, but the human being inside. The person almost paralyzed by grief. And it broke my heart. I did something then that I would never have thought to do in a thousand years.

Rufus stared at me, puzzled as my hand traveled upward, gently resting on the back of his neck. Without so much as a word I leaned in and captured his mouth in a kiss. Shock registered in his ice blue orbs. Shock that soon melted away as he kissed me back hungrily, his arms wrapping around me.

I didn't object as Rufus dipped me back, pushing me onto the conference table. I was enjoying myself, despite the pain, focusing on his lips, on his tongue sparring with mine. I grinned as Rufus pulled at my belt, unfastening it as his skilled lips found my neck.

I gasped as I felt his hand slide under the waistband of my slacks and fasten around my growing hardness. Rufus smirked as he squeezed, sending me into a fit of moaning. How had Tseng ever got any work done?

I barely felt it as my pants were pulled free, I was too focused on the feel of his hand around my shaft, pumping me while his lips tangled with mine. I nearly whimpered at the intensity of his touch. I tried to move against his grip but he kept me pinned an amused smirk on his face. That was sweet torture, needing to move and being unable to so much as shift my position. Not that I'm complaining.

I cried out when I came, my voice muffled by the kiss. Rufus pulled his mouth from mine, smirking as he moved his fingers, sticky with my essence. I watched the blond breathlessly as his eyes shone with a strange light.

Before I could catch my breath enough to form a question, his slick finger slipped past my entrance, easily sliding into me. I moaned as he wiggled the digit, his other hand pressing me down onto the table. I whimpered, fighting him to get to his lips. Rufus lowered himself for another kiss as he slipped a second finger into me.

My thoughts were racing as Rufus devoured my mouth with his own. I had only meant to offer him a bit of companionship, and now he was in the midst of having his way with me on the conference table. I moaned as I felt him withdraw his invading fingers.

My world exploded as Rufus' length thrust into me. I wasn't as prepared as I would have liked but one look at his eyes made it a moot point. Pain, pleasure...what was the difference? Did it matter when I looked into those passion clouded blue eyes? I clung to him weakly as he started his rhythm, rocking against me all too quickly. Beneath him, I couldn't help but wonder. Was I really that easy?

All of my objections might as well have been flushed out into space when he hit that spot inside me. I tightened my legs around him as he rammed home again...and again...and again. My brain turned to jelly as he pounded into me and I didn't care if I ever had another coherent thought again so long as he never stopped.

Far too soon for my liking, Rufus pressed against me and shuddered, filling my insides with a sudden warmth. I kissed his lips gently and held him, content to stay that way as long as he would allow it.

I smiled, basking in the afterglow. To think that less than ten years ago I had been in the slums. That, coupled with what had just happened was too surreal a thought for me to focus on. I laid my head back contendedly. I love staff meetings.

I sighed when Rufus pushed away from me and saw to his clothes, paying business-like attention to his appearance. I watched him as I pulled on my discarded pants, waiting for someone to say something as I refastened my belt.

Wordlessly he motioned for me to come to his side. I padded over quietly and stood with Rufus at the window, watching as the deep blue of twilight settled over Junon harbor. The water looked oddly beautiful in the fading light. Or perhaps it was just the company. Below us technicians were hard at work disassembling the makou cannon for transport to Midgar. Would their plan really work?

I nearly jumped in surprise when his arm encircled my waist. Instead I merely leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder.

“You'll find them?”

“Yes, sir...We'll find them.”

“And you'll come back?' his words were almost a whisper, issuing from low in his throat.

“I promise.” Rufus seemed to stiffen at the reply, but he only nodded, keeping his gaze on the waterfront.

After one last parting kiss I walked out of the conference room, a spring in my step. Outwardly, I probably seemed my normally impudent, over-confident self. Inside, however, my mind raced, considering what now existed between us. If anything did. I closed my eyes as I rode the elevator down towards the reactor. It wasn't love, but...it was something. And that was far more than either of us had alone.


***FIN***