[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]

"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."

[plate_builder]

It will have to do.

"Don't disappoint me," Reeve agrees, leaning in to kiss Rufus's neck lightly before pulling back. And his face looks so broken. The pain of having to go. "I love you."

No worries Reeve, this isn't a doujin xD

[afterlaborday]

Rufus smiles a little. "I love you, as well. And don't worry, things will be fine."

Re: No worries Reeve, this isn't a doujin xD

[plate_builder]

Perhaps they will. Perhaps they won't. Either way Reeve nods and turns before he leaves. And he hates it. A lot.

On the way out he pauses by Reno and Rude.

"I will do everything I can do find out about Tseng and Elena. But please... keep him safe."

[afterlaborday]

"Of course, man." Reno remarks, tapping his rod with a grin. "Think we're just gonna let those momma's boys hurt our boss?"

[plate_builder]

"No," Reeve says, thoughtful. "But I love him, Reno. I don't know what I'd do without him."

Rude shifts nervously at that. Clearly he doesn't know what to do with that information.

[afterlaborday]

Reno grins at Rude, nudging him with an elbow and saying something about owing Reno 20 bucks, before he turns back to Reeve and gives him what constitutes his most serious smile.

"Come on, man, give us some credit. We're going to protect the boss, and nothing and no one is going to hurt him."

[plate_builder]

"Good. Because if they do, I'll find a way to visit his suffering back on you," Reeve says with a soft smile. And then he's moving away. There's a whole world of problems he has to face right now.

[afterlaborday]

"Yeah, yeah." Reno waves Reeve away, before turning back to Rude to chat or do whatever they do when it's just them and no Tseng around, though everything about their posture says they are ready for anything.

It will be a time before Rufus reaches out to Reeve, busy dealing with the Remnants. However, he will reach out to Reeve the day after the healing rain.