What Could Have Been (Saving Me, Chap Two)
Title: What Could Have Been (Saving Me, Chapter Two)
Fandom: FFVII
Characters: Cloud, Reno
Rating: PG
Word count: 417
Warning: angst, language
Beta: seira_kuragari
Disclaimer: Not mine.
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“Come on, Cloud. Think about it. Together we can rebuild Shinra.”
I knew I’d said the wrong thing when his back went rigid.
“Not interested.” He shoved past me and walked quickly down the stairs. Shit. I heard Rufus and Rude say my name in an odd mix of a long-suffering sigh and annoyance. I winced as I looked back at the now closed door for a moment before almost running to catch Cloud before he left.
“Hey, Cloud, wait.” I grabbed his left arm when I reached him, but let go immediately when he flinched and made a pained sound. I gave him a considering look. “Has it gotten that bad?”
I think I was the only person to know about his Geostigma. And I knew he wouldn’t have volunteered the information. He scowled at me. “I’m fine, Reno. It doesn’t matter.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t lie to me, Cloud. I’m trained to spot lying and you’re not good at it.”
“Just leave me alone. Don’t act like you care just so Rufus can get an extra bodyguard. It’s not going to work.”
I returned his scowl as he turned his back on me again. I moved around him to stand between him and his bike. “You know damn well that I care about you. I’ve told you often enough.”
He gave me a sad look. I couldn’t tell if he was sad for me or himself. Guess it didn’t matter much. “Don’t start, Reno.”
Fuck, he pissed me off. Him and his goddamn angst. “Why the fuck not?” I practically snarled at him.
He wasn’t looking at me. Staring somewhere near my left elbow. He really didn’t give a shit. I didn’t know why it surprised me so much. Suppose I had hoped he was just doing what he always did. I closed my eyes briefly and took a deep, shuddering breath. When I opened them again, he still wasn’t looking at me.
My voice sounded defeated and pathetic to my own ears. “Fine, yo. I get it. One night of drunken comfort doesn’t mean anything to you.” I took a few steps toward him. Our left shoulders almost touching. “Go back to your hiding space.”
I couldn’t see his face. Didn’t bother trying. Didn’t care what reaction my words caused. He moved forward and mounted his bike. He didn’t pause before starting it, but he didn’t drive off immediately. I looked at him over my shoulder.
“I could have loved you.”
Fandom: FFVII
Characters: Cloud, Reno
Rating: PG
Word count: 417
Warning: angst, language
Beta: seira_kuragari
Disclaimer: Not mine.
------------
“Come on, Cloud. Think about it. Together we can rebuild Shinra.”
I knew I’d said the wrong thing when his back went rigid.
“Not interested.” He shoved past me and walked quickly down the stairs. Shit. I heard Rufus and Rude say my name in an odd mix of a long-suffering sigh and annoyance. I winced as I looked back at the now closed door for a moment before almost running to catch Cloud before he left.
“Hey, Cloud, wait.” I grabbed his left arm when I reached him, but let go immediately when he flinched and made a pained sound. I gave him a considering look. “Has it gotten that bad?”
I think I was the only person to know about his Geostigma. And I knew he wouldn’t have volunteered the information. He scowled at me. “I’m fine, Reno. It doesn’t matter.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t lie to me, Cloud. I’m trained to spot lying and you’re not good at it.”
“Just leave me alone. Don’t act like you care just so Rufus can get an extra bodyguard. It’s not going to work.”
I returned his scowl as he turned his back on me again. I moved around him to stand between him and his bike. “You know damn well that I care about you. I’ve told you often enough.”
He gave me a sad look. I couldn’t tell if he was sad for me or himself. Guess it didn’t matter much. “Don’t start, Reno.”
Fuck, he pissed me off. Him and his goddamn angst. “Why the fuck not?” I practically snarled at him.
He wasn’t looking at me. Staring somewhere near my left elbow. He really didn’t give a shit. I didn’t know why it surprised me so much. Suppose I had hoped he was just doing what he always did. I closed my eyes briefly and took a deep, shuddering breath. When I opened them again, he still wasn’t looking at me.
My voice sounded defeated and pathetic to my own ears. “Fine, yo. I get it. One night of drunken comfort doesn’t mean anything to you.” I took a few steps toward him. Our left shoulders almost touching. “Go back to your hiding space.”
I couldn’t see his face. Didn’t bother trying. Didn’t care what reaction my words caused. He moved forward and mounted his bike. He didn’t pause before starting it, but he didn’t drive off immediately. I looked at him over my shoulder.
“I could have loved you.”