[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]

"I love you."

That's all the argument he feels is needed.

[afterlaborday]

"I hate you." It's a pouting voice he says it with.

[plate_builder]

"Please don't say that," Reeve says, and even pouting that gets him a bit hurt.

[afterlaborday]

"Well, it's true." He mutters this, making the Cait unit fold its arms childishly. "Honestly, you'll be in far more danger coming here than I'm in danger. So shouldn't you back down if that's the case?"


[OOC: Reeve may be hurt, but I'm laughing. Rufus is being such a big kid because he can't find good, mature words to say to Reeve... even Reno wouldn't be this childish!]

[plate_builder]

[OOC: Rufus, nothing short of dumping him will get obedience from Reeve.]

"I don't think it is. And I've had a number of attempts on my life. Protecting you is worth the danger. I should get to make that choice for myself."

Which isn't entirely true. Deciding whether he was putting himself at risk was his decision. Whether he would be allowed into Rufus's presnce or not was Rufus's.

[afterlaborday]

[ooc: Naw, even he finds that too childish/mean. He will just pout.]

It wasn't like he would leave Reeve outside if he came, not with those three liable to be about. Easier to watch their movements, and Reeve's, when they were in one place, or at the very least, suspectee to be.

It doesn't mean he is any happier with Reeve's insistance though, and he is going to lay down an important rule. "If you come, we are not dating so far as those three go. You're just an old employee I see sometimes to help rebuild Shinra."

[plate_builder]

"If that is what you want," Reeve says, and he hardly feels like he should agree to that. But if that is what it takes for him to be there to help protect his lover, then he'll do it.

"I'll be there soon."

[afterlaborday]

It's an important thing, whether Reeve is fond of it or not, and Rufus is already quite sure he will have to remind Reeve of it, maybe even warn him to watch his expressions. Right now things are tame, he even has Kadaj convinced he doesn't know where 'Mother' is, but it is hard to say how long that will last and he doesn't need Reeve used as a pawn.

Yet he supposes that, if the man has to come, now is the best time. He'll be used to the chair and bandaging, as well as the blanket, Rufus is wearing to pretend that he is still not only injured from the blast at headquarters but also weak from the Stigma; the latter not altogether a lie.

When Reeve does show, he will also be greeted by Reno and Rude, the former looking rather unamused.

[plate_builder]

"I'm not in the mood to deal with you," Reeve tells Reno bluntly, light shining from all of the materia at his wrists. "Sooner or later you know he's going to send you out there, and he'll be undefended save for his shotgun. Would you prefer he has backup or not?"

Because this, Reno, is not the time for whatever tension is between them. He frankly doesn't care.

[afterlaborday]

"While I agree with you, I'm not looking forward to the fallout." Reno remarks, folding his arms. "We got enough problems without the boss being even more annoyed.ç

[plate_builder]

"Forgive me if I don't care about his annoyance," Reeve answers. "Would you leave Rude alone that long if his life was threatened?"

Partners, that at least the man should understand.

[afterlaborday]

"If I gotta." Did he expect some other answer from a Turk? They did a lot of things they didn't like, close-knit or not. "Just try not to piss him off much more, would ya? We gotta live with him."

[plate_builder]

"You know I would live with him too if I could," Reeve counters, voice sharp. Why must they all be so... frustrating?

He supposes it's nothing new. Still, he pauses before he reaches for the door.

"Be careful out there, both of you. Rufus values you as more than employees, whether he shows it or not."

[afterlaborday]

"Yeah, yeah." Reno waves Reeve off dismissively, although he knows it's true. Enough years with Rufus has taufht him how the man operates, as well as how he shows or doesn't show things. Which is why the next words come out. "Good luck."

[plate_builder]

Well, that's about all the approval Reeve will ever earn, so he heads through the door and closes it behind him. And promptly crosses his arms to glare at Rufus.

"Did you really think I would stay away?"

At least he isn't saying 'I told you so.'

[afterlaborday]

Rufus returns the look from where he has seated himself on the couch, the blanket he is using for hiding settled across his lap, and the wheelchair settled right beside. He also hasn't bothered to remove the bandages he's decided to wear for show.

"I thought you would be reasonable and realize if I wanted you to stay away there would be a very good, very well thought out reason for it."

[plate_builder]

"What about the relationship we've entered into has led to to the conclusion that I'm capable of being reasonable even in the face of 'well thought out' reasons? That isn't how love and concern work. Perhaps that is inconvenient to you, but I frankly don't care."

There isn't anything he can do other than what he did on the phone on the way in. He called Cloud to try and get information, only to find nothing. Then he put out feelers to the rest of AVALANCHE to suggest something might be up. And other than that, he'd come here, to be with Rufus.

[afterlaborday]

Honestly! Rufus' glare deepens, probably more anger in those blue eyes than Reeve has ever seen, and his tone colder than it's ever been.

"I suppose you believe that the only reason for my logic is impersonal? That all I was considering was how to move my pawns to achieve my goal? That the only person allowed to worry, and thus throw their weight around because of it, is you?"

[plate_builder]

"No, I don't. I think you were trying to protect me, and failing to consider how I would rather have the chance to protect something I care about for once in my life."

Yes, that is Reeve's voice raised in a shout. That is him angry and frustrated.

"You're so intent on fixing what your father's company caused that I sometimes think you might be as stupid as me when it comes to your own health. I know you intend the best, but... I couldn't stand to lose you without seeing you again."

[afterlaborday]

"This isn't about fixing the damage but keeping more from happening!" He stands, carefully placing something beneath the blanket as he does, before moving to stand straight in front of Reeve. "The less connection I seem to have to the outside world, the more I seem to be like my Father, the better and the less likely for trouble to occur. You come in, and what do you think is going to happen?

"Distraction is what, and distraction puts me in danger, as well as everyone else. If they figure things out, not only will you be unable to protect me, you may well destroy me. Or do you think I like the idea of having to choose between you and everyone we've been trying to protect?"

[plate_builder]

Dammit. It's not a bad point. And Reeve looks cowed. Angry too. He doesn't even bother to look at Rufus.

"I'll leave. You are right.'

[afterlaborday]

"You're already here, idiot." Rufus turns to go sit back on the couch, readjusting things and looking at Reeve. "You may as well sit so I can give you details to give Cloud. Besides, it should be at least a day or two before they show back up since I sent them on a wild goose chase.

"Then you can go home." He rubs his head, not worried about messing up his hair. "If you don't try to stay after I tell you. I at least owe you an explanation, annoyed as I am."

[plate_builder]

Reeve nods and moves to lean against a wall. Being closer doesn't suit him right now.

"Of course. As you wish."

What, spiteful? not him.

[afterlaborday]

Rufus doesn't seem to care to comment on Reeve's attitude. He's not so happy himself, given the situation at hand, and it takes him another moment or two of rubbing his head before he can manage to speak calmly enough to explain.

"The Turks got into the crater fine, we still have a Shinra helicopter which Reno and Rude got fixed up, and they found something. Something we expected, and something we didn't. The something we did I won't go into, but the something we didn't...

"I don't have a proper name for them, for what they are, but they call Jenova 'Mother' and Sephiroth 'Brother.' The actual names they go by are Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz, though I've only ever spoken with Kadaj."

[plate_builder]

Well, this was a mess.

"I assume their intentions aren't the best, given they're referring to those two as their relatives. Very strange, all the records I've managed to recover from the tower do not imply Hojo had more than one subject that survived. Sephiroth lacks any siblings."