[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

[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."

[afterlaborday]

"All the information the Turks and myself have says the same. Likely, it's related to this." Rufus moves aside the blanket, revealing a black box with yellow tape around it. "This is what remains of Jenova. It's also what they are searching for."

[plate_builder]

Reeve goes white as a sheet with that information. Jenova. No. That's... That's not possible. If he could he'd take a further step back.

"Keeping it here seems dangerous. But that's the point, isn't it?"

Now to hope I don't forget canon lol

[afterlaborday]

He covers the box again, nodding a little. "I've convinced them that I don't have her, that the day we were in the crater, we found nothing. That maybe someone else found what was left."

[plate_builder]

"Which could have them going after civilians."

Or Reeve. Damn. He should just roll his eyes, but there isn't much he can do about any of it, really. Other than put himself out of danger the best he can.

"You're right, and I was wrong, very obviously."

[afterlaborday]

"More likely any of you who were with Cloud, if not Cloud himself." He drums his fingers lightly on his thigh. "They know quite some bit about things, though I had to fill them in on some things they didn't know. With as little detail as I could get away with, anyway."

[plate_builder]

Dammit. Another situation where Reeve couldn't do anything. If he put the WRO on alert then things would get more complicated. And they couldn't handle anything like Sephiroth. Still, he had to try.

"How can I help?"

[afterlaborday]

"Talk to Cloud and the others, let them know the situation. They'll listen much better to you than to me. It wouldn't be safe for me to try right now."

[plate_builder]

"No, it would not," Reeve says with a sigh. "But I must address that now. If it's the same to you, I will go now. I'll take the control system for Cait."

He will make use of the bot the best he can.

[afterlaborday]

Rufus stands, moving to the bedroom to fetch the control for Cait and bringing it to Reeve, watching him. And once he goes for the control, Rufus will reach forward, trying to grab Reeve's face to kiss the man gently. "I'm sorry I'm such trouble."

[plate_builder]

The kiss definitely surprises Reeve, but he takes it just as readily as he takes the remote. Once it's done his expression softens.

"Don't you dare die," Reeve says, voice firm and commanding. He won't accept anything less. "Don't you dare die."

[afterlaborday]

Rufus chuckles and hugs Reeve, leaning to nip his ear like Reeve likes it, pulling back. "Is that a good promise? After all, I won't just leave it at that."