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- [ event ],
- [ open ],
- [ whispers ],
- aerith [ asha ],
- aerith [ riddle ],
- andrea [ yan ],
- angeal [ ariel ],
- cid [ ariel ],
- cloud [ peach ],
- cor [ asha ],
- elena [ liz ],
- regis [ ariel ],
- reno [ abby ],
- rikku [ iola ],
- rude [ peach ],
- rude [ yan ],
- rufus [ hebe ],
- sephiroth [ bird ],
- sephiroth [ cat ],
- sephiroth [ nyan ],
- sephiroth [ sten ],
- shelke [ dalrint ],
- squall [ peach ],
- tifa [ ash ],
- tifa [ asha ],
- tseng [ mil ],
- veld [ hebe ],
- weiss [ shikki ],
- zack [ asha ]
ARRIVAL.
π ππ πππ π ππππ ππππ ππ ππππ πππ π you moved under your own power. The shadows that dwelt in the corners of your vision vanished, the world is bright and the shackles of destiny fall from your liberated limbs.
You're free.
But before you can take that next step, before you can alter your fate, a terrible howling fills your ears. It's an ill wind full of malice, one that rips you off of your feet and back, back, back from this chance to seize your destiny. The shadows coalesce into a single entity, its hands locking around your throat. It cannot let this stand.
You think that maybe this is the end. The world goes dark as it rushes past you, this is the end.
Except you wake to the feeling of rain on your skin.
The cliffs around you bare the scars of a fierce battle. Before you, a massive city faces the sea. Behind you, greenery sprawls for miles. Midgar has never looked so beautiful, but it has also never looked so unlike itself. The Sister Ray points proudly towards the sea. A bustling city crawls out from its shadow, looking wealthier and more robust than the slums ever did. You don't have long to ponder this.
Because you aren't alone. Others are coming to, looking just as confused and uncertain as you do. Some are battleworn and bloody, as if they were pulled from a fierce battle. Others appear to be in perfect health, as if they were simply pulled from a long slumber, though no less confused and lost. The howling that filled your slowly begins to fade, and as it does, the rain begins to clear.
ππππππ is within a few hours walking distance. ππππ lies not much further in the opposite direction. There is no presence urging you to walk to one or the other, no voice from on high telling you what path your feet should walk. Underneath this infinite blue sky the choice to go - or to stay - is entirely yours.
ππππ ππππ πππ ππ ππππ ππ?
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He could kill a man with his bare hands with little to no effort if he knew they were enemy's of his employer, but killing a whole sector's worth of people for reasons that were shady at best was something that wouldn't ever sit well with him. Nothing could be worse than that.
Until they got to the outskirts of the city he remained silent, surveying the area until he spotted a small empty bar that would give them enough privacy to have a conversation. He reaches behind him into the wait of his belt and verifies he's packing in case he has to dispatch any civilians.]
This should be fine. Unless you need more privacy.
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But he did allow himself to sit down at one of the tables in the abandoned bar, ignoring the dust and grime. He had been in worse places so he really didn't care. Before they went anywhere else Rufus decided that he owed Rude the truth of what happened in the last couple of years. He wasn't sure who or what they could encounter in this strange version of their world so they both had to be prepared.]
I suppose I should start at the beginning. That night when I took my father's place. It seems like a lifetime ago I was standing over Midgar on the 70th floor.
[He closed his eyes and for a moment he saw it but it quickly turned into remembering the flash of light as Diamond Weapon's blast hit.]
The Shinra tower is gone. There isn't much left- I barely managed to survive.
[When everyone had thought he was dead in the blast, it had been the Turks who had gone looking for him. He only remembered seeing Rude and Reno calling down to him before passing out from the pain killers he had taken. They always managed to find him.]
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It seemed like he was comfortable enough, so Rude settled in, keeping an eye at the entrance of the bar and glancing at the bartender as he put his gun down on the table. A silent warning to the man to keep his distance and allow them privacy.]
What took down the tower, and how did you manage?
[Anything powerful enough to take it down wouldn't have been someone just any one could walk away from unscathed. Rude assumes all of those bandages might have been old wounds form that and is glad to see that Rufus is still in one piece.]
Either way, I'm glad you did survive.
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I think you should get something to drink before I start, though.
[It was a warning but he was sure Rude would need something before he was finished. A lot of it wouldn't be easy for him to speak about but he wasn't going to avoid it just because it was unpleasant. If Rude was going to decide to stay with him than Rufus wanted him to make an informed decision.]
I have a lot to tell you and a lot of it won't be easy to hear.
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There was no one there to help you?
[He'd dismissed the idea of having a drink right away, but the more Rufus goes on the more he thinks that perhaps it would be best if they had a little something to calm the nerves. Drinking wasn't his forte, but it would give him something to do with his hands while he listened and took in parts of the story.]
One moment. I'll be right back.
[Rude pushes his gun toward Rufus to hold onto while he gets up, has a short conversation with the bartender. There's the sound of clashing like something metallic hit the ground, and then shattering glass before a loud thud. He returns, setting two glasses of the best this poor excuse for a bar had to offer, and straightens his tie as he sits down again.]
This is the best they had.
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Thank you, Rude.
[He was sure the glass hadn't been washed recently and he had no idea what it contained but he didn't care as he lifted it to his lips without wiping the rim to take a drink to steady himself. There were things he didn't like to talk about so it would take something to get him through it.]
Alright.
[He took a deep breath, took another sip of his drink, and started. He didn't look away from Rude as he talked through what happened after he became president, down to every detail, no matter how unpleasant it was. He stopped after his escape from his office after Diamond Weapon's attack, letting Rude have a moment to process everything. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but he watched the other man's face carefully.]
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His jaw unclenches as he does his best to retain a neutral expression through it all like he was treating this as any other mission briefing. Itβs more common from the timeline he remembers for Tseng to do the majority of the direct communication with Rufus but even before the death of his father, the Turks had become loyal to him. They certainly werenβt strangers but Rude wouldnβt dare have the audacity to suggest they were more even if he felt that way himself. To the point where he knew Rufusβ birthday like he knows his own phone number.]
Iβm glad we were able to find you, but Iβm sorry we werenβt there with you throughout it.
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[The worst was about to come and Rufus needed Rude to be prepared for that. He wasn't surprised Rude hadn't left though. They had always been by his side through the worst, even from childhood when it was Veld who was there for him more than his own father.
They were more than just his subordinates. Different than friends. Rufus trusted each of them without hesitation.]
I don't remember anything after you nad Reno finding me until I woke up in a hospital. Tseng made the decision to leave Midgar- he wanted to go further away but I insisted that we go to Kalm where there was a safehouse used by the Turks at times that no one knew about. I wouldn't abandon Midgar even though it seemed like Meteor was going to hit any moment.
[He paused to take a long drink from his glass at this part.]
I insisted on sending the four of you back to Midgar to assist the evacuation. What happened after that was the result of my decision, not yours or Tseng's. None of you are to blame nor do I hold any of you accountable.
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He's not surprised the Turks looked for him, though. He'd always been loyal to Rufus first and Shinra second. So far it hadn't gotten them into too much trouble, and it kept the paychecks coming. Thankfully at his last point in time Rufus was the one in charge now.]
I see.
[Rude pushes his sunglasses further up the bridge of his nose, still listening intently as though if he missed a single word of Rufus' his whole life might end. He frames this next part a very specific way and Rude can already tell he's going to hate what happens even before he hears it. His body is stiff and sitting upright when he makes himself drink some more just to calm himself.]
Just tell me. I can handle it. [It hadn't occurred to him that what would come next wasn't the death of himself, Tseng, or even Rude. It was something else that Rude couldn't have predicted or seen coming. Rufus wasn't dragging it out to keep him in suspense, he was trying to keep himself emotionally separated from what happened.
It had to have been something bad happening to Rufus, and now he's unsure how much he really wants to hear.]
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There is no change in his voice as he talked about how Kilmister, one of Hojo's former research assistants had gotten him out of there only to put him with Geostigma patients. This time he did pause to take a long drink. This part was going to get ugly.]
When the Lifestream came up to protect the planet from Meteor, it was tainted with the traces of Sephiroth and Jenova. Anyone who came into contact with it contracted Geostigma. I wasn't infected yet when Kilmister took me to his research 'facility', I was there to give him leverage to get what he wanted from Shinra.
[Which is why Rufus had the man shot without hesitation as soon as Kilmister had uttered the name Sephiroth.]
I won't tell you how I got it. [This time there is a slight hitch to his voice that would be undetectable to anyone who didn't know him well but he kept his composure nonetheless. That moment had been a reoccurring nightmare over the years.] I was sick for about two years, until just before I came here. It's gone now, thankfully.
no subject
So you were tortured for days, and then infected with this Geostigma?
[That much was clear, but he's summarizing to let Rufus know he was listening. Very closely. Rufus must know that Rude is already upset by it all, so hearing that he won't go into detail about how he got it could have been another issue where he didn't want to relive the details as with the torture, or he simply didn't think Rude could handle it.
The latter might have certainly been true. He didn't want to do anything in that moment put put his fist through a wall. Why did he knock out the bartender? He could have used someone to bring him a bottle. Rude stands up from the booth they're seated at and slides his gun back into the holster at his lower back and replaces his jacket over it before walking to the bar to grab the bottle of what they were drinking.
If anyone so much as stepped through those doors Rude might just cap them without asking questions. It's the way he was feeling right now. He returns, pours more drink into each glass, then takes a seat right beside Rufus instead of across from him. If he felt sheltered before, Rude was not going to make his life easy now.]
Even if it happens in the future, I can't forgive myself for not being there. If I was there maybe..perhaps none of it would have happened that way. He places his hand on top of Rufus' for a moment in silence.]
The Geostigma is what made the bandages black?
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[He wasn't going to get emotional about it. It was in the past and he had survived it, no matter what Mutten or Kilmister had done to him. No matter what Jenova had done to him. He would always do what he had to in order to survive day from day. That had gotten him through the last couple of years even on the bad days.
He didn't move when Rude got up to get the bottle and when Rude refilled his glass he drank half of it down. He only glanced at Rude sitting beside him but didn't move away. It was comforting.]
There is nothing to forgive, Rude. I owe you and the others my life. You stayed with me even when I was ill. Yes, it was the sores, they produced a black subst-
[It's when Rude puts his hand over Rufus's that he trails off. He had been holding everything inside for years. Holding in his own emotions since he had to carry the weight of trying to atone for what he and Shinra have done. Even when he was in the wheelchair wrapped in blankets he was still Rufus Shinra who didn't let anyone see him cry or bleed. He had refused to dwell on his own mortality for too long even as the black marks spread across his skin and he wasted slowly away.
Something inside of him shattered suddenly. The barrier he had built to keep all those fears and anxieties away cracked and his hand shook under Rude's. He couldn't just calmly put aside his emotions to deal with another day right now, it was suddenly catching up to him and he didn't know what to do.
His breath caught, slightly shaky, as he turned his palm up to lace his fingers with Rude's. His entire body shook with emotions he had been shoving down and suppressing for two years. He trusted Rude but old habits died hard and he didn't trust himself to speak again.]
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And if he ever gets back to his real time, he'll make sure none of it ever happens.
Rude notices the tremble of his body, and immediately turns to drape his other arm over those shoulders, pulling Rufus in toward him for a hug out of pure reflex alone. It's not professional at all, but no one was watching, and he couldn't just leave him to deal with all of that on his own. No. He was here now, and so they could share that burden. It's a wonder he manages to remain so composed, but Rude suspects it has to do with how upset he is at himself and the situation as a whole.]
It's okay. I won't let anything like that happen to you again.
[Some days Rufus surprised everyone, and they all wondered if the man really needed protecting at all. This was a much-needed reminder of who he was and why he and the Turks needed each other. The world was dangerous, even when you were trying to help fix it.]
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There is only a slight hesitation before he wrapped his arms around Rude in return though he was uncertain at first. It was just them in the bar right now and there was no one in the world Rufus trusted more than his Turks. This was just between them- he knew Rude wouldn't let anyone else witness this moment.
Even though this was not professional in the least, Rufus leaned against Rude, letting himself be vulnerable for the first time in years in Rude's arms as he tried to calm down but failed. There was too much that had been shoved down for too long.
He couldn't say anything as he closed his eyes, holding on as if for dear life. A single tear ran down his cheek, soaking into the material of Rude's suit.
have some gay this lovely afternoon
I hope you know that you're more than just a job to me--to all of us.
[He could really only speak for himself, but he doesn't know what his life would look like without Rufus who gave the Turks purpose. Rude isn't particularly good at anything besides kicking ass and taking names. Still, he did have the capacity for softer moments when he was being sentimental. Rude runs his hand up and down Rufus' back to sooth him.]
Your safety is important to me. You're important to me.
yess gimme the gay
He just held onto Rude for a bit, not wanting to let go as he steadied himself. He knew that he was important in the world, he had never doubted his place, but the Turks were always more than just his subordinates. He wasn't sure what to say for a while, his head buried against the side of Rude's neck.
He took a breath, only slightly shaky now as he pulled himself together. He wasn't going to wallow but he wasn't going to immediately let go for at least a few minutes.]
I'll never forget that, Rude.
[After a moment he did pull away slightly, blinking as he gathered himself once more. HE trusted that this moment would stay between them.]
And I'm forever grateful.
you asked for it
The warm breath against his neck is verification of how close they are, and Rude pushes his luck, sliding gloved fingers into the back of a head of beautiful blond hair. There might have been a little blood on his fingers from dispatching the bartender, but that was just all the more reason they needed to find some place to stay.
It might seem out of the blue, but he leans in once more to kiss Rufus once on the lips. Insurance that Rude would never talk about this moment as he would never do anything to ruin his professional image. So they both had something at stake. The problem was, he didn't think he would enjoy it quite so much. It's a little harder to pull away, but he manages.]
We should see if the Shinra building is still standing.
this is some good gay
Instead, he pulled Rude closer once more, leaning in to kiss him again. This time the kiss was a little more demanding. Perhaps it was selfish to not want to leave Rude's arms right now, it was incredibly unprofessional, but they're alone and he decided that they could spare a little bit of time.
He was acting on instinct alone as he reached up to loosen Rude's tie, deciding that he wanted more. If Rude wanted insurance about not talking about this moment then he thought they should at least enjoy this while they had the time.]
no subject
Rufus was kissing him, and was very clear that he didnβt want Rude to pull away from him. So he doesnβt. He runs his hand through pale blond hair again, memorizing the feel and taste of his lips in case this was a heat of the moment one time thing.
The loosening of his tie is when it clicks that Rufus was looking for more. His heartbeat quickens at the realization, but he acts quickly, pulling the fabric of Rufusβs shirt up enough to push his hands beneath it, touching skin he never thought heβd get a chance to even see. He shrugs off his tie and uses one hand to start unbuttoning his shirt so the other doesnβt have to leave Rufus.
Once heβs out of his shirt, he pulls the blond to onto his lap to straddle his hips in the small space of the booth. He does have to push the table out a bit further with his foot to make more room but once he does, heβs pulling Rufus back toward him by the neck. How was this even happening? Even in his dreams he knew better than to touch Rufus Shinra, and the second he thinks he can get away with it he gets carried away like this.]
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He was already addicted to how Rude tasted, the feel of Rude's hand running through his hair, how it felt when Rude ran his hand over his skin. He was greedy for more. He gave a soft moan as he shifted his hips against Rude's, running both hands down his chest to the buckle of his pants. He wasn't going to be subtle in asking for what he wanted.
He had felt like he was fading away day by day for the last two years but right now Rude made him feel alive. He felt every inch of him was just aching to be touched. He's glad that they have the same idea in tossing clothes aside and kissed him once more, catching Rude's bottom lip between his teeth.]
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Rude is ready to make an effort to stop things where they were, but hips nudge deliberately against his own and his breath catches in his lungs, procrastinating on letting out that groan. Rufus' hands get to the buckle of his pants at which point Rude finally grabs his wrists, but doesn't bring himself to pull them away. Instead he relents, letting his hands fall to the sides so Rufus can undo the fastenings of his pants.]
Tseng would kill me. Literally.
[Just because he doesn't have the physical strength to stop him doesn't mean he won't talk logic. Their lips meet again and already Rude's lost his resolve. His hands fly though each of the buttons on Rufus' shirt, pushing both sides of the fabric apart so he can appraise his body properly. He only pulls away from the kiss to plant his lips on his neck and chest instead, one hand gripping Rufus' hip as he rocks his hips up to meet his movements.
Rude wants to ask if he's done anything like this before, and with who (not to be nosy, just because his options were severely limited with how closely they all watched him). In the end he doesn't ask the question. The answer might be even more incriminating. Rude grazes a pink nipple with his teeth while a few of his fingers slide into the front of Rufus' open pants, palming him slowly. There was time for Rufus to change his mind, but Rude was done trying to pretend he didn't want this.]
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I'll make sure he doesn't.
[Tseng's disapproval wasn't going to stop him right now, especially not when Rude finally let his wrists go. He wasn't shy or modest as he watched Rude's gaze travel down his body.
He let out a low moan as Rude palmed him, thrusting into his hand the best that he was able to with how he was sitting on Rude's lap. It didn't take him long to start getting hard in Rude's hand and he wasn't going to hide how badly he wanted this.
He wrapped one arm around Rude's shoulders as his other hand worked open his pants. His slipped his hand down to grasp his cock in his hand. He didn't break Rude's gaze as he stroked him slowly, feeling every inch of him.]
no subject
The way Rufus moved made it easy for his hands to caress along the length of his cock, squeezing gently as he grew harder and filed out his hand adequately.
Somehow it got easier to think less about the circumstances around what they were doing and instead focus on being present in the moment. His cock grows heavy quite quickly from how Rufus works him over, just about fully hard when he pulls at fabric to draw out Rufusβ cock. He feels heat rise to the surface of his skin while Rufus looks right at him, but despite his better judgement, he doesnβt look away. Even with shades on it would be impossible to mask how badly he wanted the man.
Theyβre still alone so he doesnβt do too much to hide any sound he makes from the contact. Both his hands disappear behind Rufus to push down inside the loosened waist of his pants so he can squeeze at his ass, pulling him apart, and rubbing a finger right over his hole.]
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Rufus let out a loud moan as he felt Rude's finger rub over his hole, thrusting his hips against Rude's impatiently. He stroked Rude a little harder, putting his other hand on Rude's cheek to make sure he wasn't going to look away.]
I want you to fuck me, Rude. [There was not that he was being subtle about what he wanted but he was going to be direct about it. He suspected that Rude already knew Rufus had never been with anyone like this before so he wasn't going to come right out and say anything about that.]
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Rufus was inexplicably tight, and it was just as concerning as it was arousing. He suspected this wasn't the sort of thing the Shinra heir got up to often, but it never once crossed his mind that it hadn't happened before. Rude does his best to take his time, using his fingers so that he could work Rufus relaxed a little bit more. He watches the expression on the man's face while he slides his fingers deeper, pushing against his prostate cautiously when he feels it. Rude wants him to feel good, but he doesn't want to make him cum just yet.]
You don't do this often, do you?
[He's not complaining, or poking fun, just surveying the situation and laying out his findings. Rude uses his free hand to wipe some of the precum off of Rufus's cock to spread it over his own and with a little saliva at least the head shined like it might be manageable if they took their time.
Had he known Rufus was a virgin to this, he'd have insisted they find some form of lube, but instead he withdraws his fingers, pulls his pants further down his thighs to expose his ass better, and positions the blond so he's pulling him down onto his pierced cock. Whether it's modesty or delusion that makes Rude think it won't be a difficult fit is unknown to even him, but at least he's watching Rufus' face for signs that he should stop guiding himself in.]
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