[Open Post]

[plate_builder]

Does it need to be said? You can find this poor civil engineer in any sort of situation you want. Put up a starter and let it run free. No Scarlets welcome, though. He can't stand them.

Comments

[plate_builder]

The shower is far quicker this time, mostly more of a rinsing. Soon enough he's back, in another towel, and moving for the bed to recover his clothes.

"I'll miss you while you're gone. I can't take a Cait this time, for us to talk."

[afterlaborday]

"Then I'll just have to catch you when you return." Rufus smiles, moving to give Reeve a deep kiss. "How long will the trip be this time?"

[plate_builder]

"Two weeks," Reeve smiles after the kiss passes. "When I come back, I want to steal a few days."

Just them, maybe exploring outside of Rufus's rooms.

[afterlaborday]

"We can attempt it." Rufus agrees, moving to help Reeve dress if he wants it, or otherwise waiting so he can smooth out his clothes, commenting before anything can be said. "No wife remarks."

[plate_builder]

"What?" Reeve asks as he starts to dress, and yes, he appreciates the hands smoothing his clothes. "Wife remarks?"

He never would have even thought of such things.

[afterlaborday]

"Reno has said I act as a wife to you." Rufus explains, tilting his head. "I am fairly sure he's just jealous I spoil you, though."

[plate_builder]

"If you were my wife you'd be the one nagging me," Reeve counters as he works on his tie. "No, I'm the wife if either of us are."

[afterlaborday]

"I nag sometimes." Rufus corrects, taking over on the tie, and seeming to be very good at the skill even though he rarely wears one. "Can the Cait unit take messages? I can leave one letting you know what we find at the Crater, unless you would rather wait."

[plate_builder]

"I would like to know. Yes, yes he can. Or you could leave a message on my phone. Like an adult."

He smiles and once the tie is done, he leans in to kiss Rufus's forehead.

[afterlaborday]

"Now where would be the fun in that?" Rufus chuckles. "I adult enough already."

[plate_builder]

"Then surprise me. Just be okay," Reeve answers, reaching out to stroke his lover's cheek and leaning in to kiss him. "I need to get going."

[afterlaborday]

"I will." Rufus smiles, and moves towards the front room. "I've prepared your usual coffee if you get tired while traveling, as well as a few snacks."

[plate_builder]

Okay, now Reeve has no choice but to bite his lip to resist the tease. Is he sure he isn't a sweet wifey in his behavior?

"Thanks you, love," Reeve smiles, moving to pack up his less fresh clothes into his bag. Once that's done he moves to follow Rufus, bag in hand. "I'd much rather take you along as a snack, but reasonable."

[afterlaborday]

Good thing Rufus doesn't see, as he would probably swat Reeve's arm if he had. He does, however, hear that remark quite well, and smirks at the man as he comes out. "Perhaps I should enlist some help from Tseng and produce some helpful photos of myself for your next trip."

[plate_builder]

"I would ask you didn't," Reeve insists as he moves to put his bag by the door. "I could hardly handle the jealousy that would come from him looking at you."

The very idea of it got him a touch aroused. Again. This young man ruins him. But of course he would get worked up. A man he had confessed to Rufus he was interested in, that he knew Rufus had been interested in him, staring at Rufus who was getting pictures for Reeve's use? Very nice.

[afterlaborday]

"If you insist." He chuckles, moving over to give Reeve a soft kiss. "I'll be waiting, so you stay safe."

[plate_builder]

"For you? Always dear," Reeve assures him, happy for the contact. Then he takes the provided snacks and coffee and kisses his brow.

"Be careful, love. I'll be back when I can."

[afterlaborday]

"Of course." Rufus smiles, and will watch Reeve take off before retiring to himself bathe, taking all the time he desires to do so before having to set about the mass amounts of planning he and the Turks will have to do in anticipation of the trip to the Crater.

It will at least be enough to even keep Rufus from causing mischief in Reeve's apartment while the man is away, although by the time he does return, he will find only a quickly scribbled message, very messy dur to Cait's "paws," saying he will contact Reeve when able, not to contact him, and not to worry too much.

A night or so after Reeve returns, he will indeed contact him, bringing the Cait unit to active mode and seeking the man out inside his apartment.

[plate_builder]

By the time Cait comes on Reeve is at one of his desks, working on a draft of a new bridge he's been asked to work on for Gongaga. But to hear Cait start moving he sets the pen aside and turns to consider the robot.

"Is there a reason," he asks as he considers the small form, "I haven't been invited over yet?"

[afterlaborday]

"For the same reason I haven't contacted you until now." Rufus maneuvers the unit as he speaks so that he can make sure to have a good view of Reeve. "Something went wrong at the crater, and I've had some unexpected guests..."

[plate_builder]

Reeve's up immediately, reaching for his phone. Clearly he intends to summon his security team to get him there.

"Talk more. Do you need additional assistance? I might be able to speak to Vincent. He is the least likely to cause problems."

[afterlaborday]

"Put the phone down, Reeve." There's an audible sigh from the other side of the mechanical cat, the only hint needed that Rufus expected the movement. "It's setiously not safe for you here, right now, nor I doubt for Mr. Valentine.

"Tseng and Elena are missing, I can only fear dead, and some... well, I suppose we could call them 'siblings' of Sephiroth are poking about. You need not be involved in that, which is why I will be discarding the Cait Unit's control after this conversation and not answering my phone."

[plate_builder]

"No," Reeve counters, no small bit of anger in his voice. "If this is an incident such as you've said, this isn't a time where you should be pretending you can protect me. Reno and Rude need to be out there on some work for you, probably reaching out to Cloud and them. But that means you need someone there with you, more than just a gun in your defense."

And Reeve's magic is good, better than good. He should be there, to help the man he cares about.

[afterlaborday]

"This is not a negotiation, Reeve." If Reeve recalls Rufus' boss tone, then he will recognize it coming across, though there is a hint of something else; worry, perhaps? "Right now, Kadaj thinks I'm a weak invalid who is still fully in hiding, and not in touch with anyone from what was Shinra aside from the Turks. I'm safe."

[plate_builder]

Kadaj? Who is that? No, Reeve doesn't care. He doesn't...

"Rufus, I don't care what he thinks about you. I know that I belong there, with you. I'm not negotiating things, I'm telling you that I'm coming there now. After I put in a call to Cloud. I need to know everything to speak with him."

Just let him do right, Rufus. If there is something involving Sephiroth going on, he has an obligation to discuss it with AVALANCHE, if they haven't already been informed.