Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

Tough Love	By : tstearns Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 807 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
It's pretty obvious I don't own Final Fantasy VII, Reno, Tseng, Rude, the Turks or any other copyrighted Square-Enix characters and elements. If I did, I'd be capitalizing like hell off this. But I don't so I'm not.
If you happen to notice any technical problems with a story (i.e. missing chapters, missing text, etc.) I would really very much appreciate you dropping me a note at: http://www.tlsdigital.net/feedback.html Thanks to you who have already done this!
If you like it, let me know. If you don�t, let me know. Tell me your honest opinions�I�m not one who needs to have smoke blown up my pants to make me feel good. The more you critique, the better I write, and the better I write, the more I post.
Easy as that.

Also, anything and everything I post is subject to further and continuous edits (case in point, with this story). Even if you�re happy with it, I probably am not. Eventually, I�ll learn to stop doing this.
Now, for the story�
--------------------------
Final Fantasy VII - TOUGH LOVE
By Teri Stearns (a.k.a.
�EntreNous�)
--------------------------
Son of a bitch.
I slammed the hood of my car down
with more force than was strictly necessary. I wiggled a hose here, poked some part
there, but truth be told, cars make about as much sense to me
as women--and some men, but I'll get to that later. Sighing in resignation, I
plunked my backside down on the hood of my car and suddenly felt the metal give
under my weight.
I had just put an ass-dent in my
1970 Classic Impala.
Perfect end to a perfect day. The
only thing that would make my day any better is if the whole goddamned planet
decided to split open and swallow me whole. Then at least then I'd have a
reason to call in sick tomorrow. I was already planning which rock in Midgar
would be big enough for me to crawl under for a few years and hibernate. Then I
realized there aren't any rocks in Midgar, not counting the major road
construction that has ninety percent of Midgar perpetually torn up. That left
me with the only other option of leaving town, and thanks to reliable old
"Betsy" here underneath me, that wasn't going to happen tonight.
I pulled my feet up on the front
bumper and rested my elbows on my knees, digging the heels of my palms into my
eye sockets while my butt continued to roll around and make a nice nest for
itself on the hood of my car. I had a headache that could probably trigger a
tsunami, and it didn't seem like it was going away anytime soon. My best hope
for any kind of salvation for the day was to head to the nearest bar and let
them hook me up to a Jack Daniels intravenous, but even that wasn't sounding
all that appealing at the moment. Somebody check the temperature in Hell. I
think I feel a chill coming on�
Oh, so it was a bad day. Big
deal. Everyone has them once in a while. You forget to set the alarm clock
right, maybe stub your toe on the side of the tub getting into the shower. Or
maybe you're forced to take a cold shower because there's no hot water left in
the building. Car problems�traffic�endless construction on every major road in
town� A million-and-three things can go wrong on the way to work, and
that's just getting there, never mind what kind of shit can happen when you
finally manage to drag yourself in.
True story, all of it. The upshot
was that I was four minutes late today. Four damn measly little minutes. And
for that Tseng decides to pull me in his office and give me the mother of all ass-chewings.
I know that man was put here on this planet to test me, but I despise tests.
I�d flunk a multiple-choice test if there was only one answer.
Honestly, Tseng's lucky I get out
of bed at all in the morning. If it weren't for my overwhelming motivation
to get up and stumble to the bathroom to relieve my aching bladder from the
previous night's drinking binge, I doubt I'd ever wake up at all. But four
minutes? C'mon. It takes me that long just to blink some mornings.
"So what's your excuse this
time, Reno?" he'd said. "Car problems? Traffic? Forget to have
the front desk at the Honeybee give you a wake up call?"
Ok, so maybe I'm just
paraphrasing. He didn't really say all that to me, but I swear he might as well
have by the look he'd been giving me. He doesn't have to say anything with that
look, you know exactly what it means as soon as you see it. It's THE look. The
kind that could freeze a fire-bat in mid air. And it's one he's been saving up
a lot for me lately.
The irony, of course, is that I actually
like Tseng. He's the coolest person I know, and he's not bad company when he's
not all business. I've even managed to make him smile once or twice with
some of my trademark Renoisms. Of course that was after hours. I don't
think he knows how to smile on the clock.
It's not like I intentionally go
out of my way to annoy him, it just seems that it's what I excel at doing. I
guess I might say that I've been trying to get his attention, if I were smart
enough to analyze myself. I do want him to notice me, to think I'm worth more
than the cheap suit I wear every day, to be proud of the work I do. My wet
dream would be for him to call me into his office, clap me on the back and say,
"Hey, Reno! Great job." Just once. But that's never
gonna happen. Not in my lifetime, or his. Whichever ends first.
So why do I care so much about
what Tseng thinks? Reno-Who-Never-Gave-A-Crap-About-Anybody, hanging on
his boss's every word like they were spun from silk as soon as they leave his
mouth... Believe me, if you saw him you'd know why. Everything he
does--every gesture, every thought, every word he says--you'd swear he took
weeks to plan. It's amazing to watch him work. He's independent,
confident, and intelligent as hell. He's also one of the most striking
people I've ever laid my eyes on. He makes Rufus Shinra look like Bozo the
Clown. He's a lady's man. He's a man's man. Tseng is the Man.
Ok. Fine. When I said I liked
him, I meant I like him. There, I freaking said it. Happy?
Far, far from it...
Took me six months to finally
admit it to myself, followed by a drinking binge that I think I'm still
recovering from. Of course, you never gradually come to realize these
things. They always hit you like a sack full of wet bricks
instead. Christ, to have a hard-on for your own boss. Another guy, even...
I could say it's nothing more
than the fact that he's just one damn pretty looking man, but it'd be a
lie. Sure, the high cheekbones, that long, silken black hair, and those
dark almond-shaped eyes sure don't do anything to stop it. But it's more
than that. He's my mentor, my leader. Everything I know about being a Turk
I've learned from him. It's only natural that I'd want his approval...
Which I don't seem to be
getting. And when he pushes me, I have a natural, inborn reaction push
back, until we're like two rams butting against each other, which thus explains
my current headache...
So now it's obvious to see why
I'm the most pathetic motherfucker on the planet.
Sitting with my head still buried
in my hands, I heard the Five O'clock Exodus of cars squealing out of the
parking garage until the engine's roars died down and only the occasional
screech was heard in the distance. Fortunately, I didn't have to work late
tonight, but a fat lot of good that did me now. Oh, sure, I could take the
trains back home and three hours later end up somewhere within a four-mile
radius of my apartment, but it was just easier to sit here and mope on the hood
of my car. Less energy required.
I heard the familiar purr of an
engine nearby and I peeked through my fingers to see a little black sports car
idling in front of me. I tried my best to ignore it, but the engine revved
once, sending a little vibration trembling through my body. Much as I wanted to
ignore it, I knew the car wouldn't go away, so I lifted my head and stared at
the tinted windshield with all the enthusiasm I give at one of our team
meetings�the ones I actually stay awake for.
The tinted passenger side window
slid down with a high-pitched whine to gradually reveal two black, highly
amused eyes. Ones I didn�t really care to see at the
moment. "Need a jump start or something?" Tseng asked.
I shook my
head. "Nah. It�s just flooded. Should be okay here in a
few."
The black eyes narrowed
skeptically. "Want me to take a look at it?"
Oh great, the fucking knight in
armor here to rescue the helpless damsel. I rolled my eyes and ground out,
"No. I'll be just fine." Bastard probably did know how to fix the
stupid thing. That didn't mean I was going to let him. I wasn't in the mood for
company no matter how damn pretty they were.
Something between a frown and a
smirk curled at the edge of Tseng's mouth, another expression unique only to
him. Anyone one else would've just looked like they were in pain.
"So are you just going to sit there all night, then?"
"I thought about it," I
shot back.
Tseng released a very controlled
sigh but didn't look particularly amused at the moment. "Get in. I�ll
give you a ride."
"No, really, I got�"
"Reno..." The
Look. "Get in." Sheesh, and this was his generous side. No way
to compromise with that. It�s like reasoning with a brick wall. If I didn�t
already feel like half my head was playing it�s favorite rendition of
"Babaloo," I�d have probably melted under that stare. Or maybe I�m
just finally building an immunity.
Hesitating with a tired sigh for
just a moment, I made sure to demonstrate how reluctant I was to slide off the
hood of my car, tucking my navy sports coat under my arm as I went. As soon as
my feet landed on the ground, I jumped at the sound of a loud, metallic
"BANG," ready to hit the deck or run like hell, whichever the case
called for. When you carry a gun for a living--and use it for a living--you
learn to appreciate your jumpy reflexes. But they can also make you look
stupid at the most inopportune times. This was one of them.
I spun around and glared at the
car, only to notice that the hood had snapped back into place. I quickly
whipped around to look back at Tseng who was unsuccessfully smothering a smirk
behind a gloved fist. Ha ha. Very funny. Mortified, I scowled darkly at
nothing in particular and felt the tips of my ears burn, knowing they had to be
turning the same shade of red as my hair. Yanking open the passenger door of
his car, I threw myself down in the seat and sank down low, wishing to become
one with the Corinthian leather. Tseng paused a moment to make sure I was
settled, then drove off. I sat with my chin in my hand staring out the
tinted window, avoiding all unnecessary eye contact with Tseng. We were
clear out of the parking garage and sitting at a traffic light before he
finally said anything to me again.
"That�thing acting up on you
again?" he asked casually, amusement still in his voice.
"Hey, that�s a classic
car!" I argued, still not turning to look at him.
"Yeah, a classic piece of
junk. Why don�t you get something that�s not older than you? You can
afford it."
"I like that car..." I
sniffed. I take insults to my car personally, even if the thing is ugly
as sin and is held together by more Bondo than the original metal. It�s
one of the few things, if not the only thing, that I have left that has any
sort of history with me. I�m not a sentimental person usually, more out of
necessity than choice. In fact, I�ve thrown out more things of greater
emotional and monetary value than that car without even flinching. I don�t
like to keep things around that remind me of my past very much. But that
car is different. It�s carried me farther than anything else has so far,
and piece of junk that it is, it�s still more reliable than anyone I�ve ever
known 'til now. It�s as much a part of me as my hair, of which I'm very
attached to. "Betsy�s been good to me."
"Betsy?" he
echoed. "Where�d you come up with a name like Betsy?"
I paused for a moment, and said
thoughtfully, "My first girlfriend�s name was Betsy. She had a big
ass." I shrugged. "The name seemed to fit."
I saw a small but amused smile
widen his mouth as he shook his head. "Reno, you�re terrible."
"So I�ve been told," I
muttered, crossing my arms.
We drove along in silence for a
while, heading South through Midgar toward the sector where I live. For once I
was uncharacteristically quiet, giving no indication that I was interested in
any kind of small talk. I was brooding about our "meeting" earlier
that day, having left his office with my tail tucked firmly between my
legs...again. Now, our close proximity and Tseng�s sudden good humor and
occasional glances toward my direction were unsettling, at best. Maybe it was
my scowl, or my unusual silence that finally got him to ask, "Rough
day?"
"Oh, like you don't
know," I muttered under my breath. There I go again. I love the
taste of my feet, I really do. Unfortunately I�d said it loud enough
for him to hear as well.
But as far as I could tell, Tseng
wasn�t even fazed by my offhanded remark. Instead, I caught him smirking out of
the corner of my eye as he suddenly downshifted into second, turning a corner
so fast I thought for sure the wheels were going to lift off the pavement and
leave my stomach somewhere back in traffic. I�ve become accustomed to the way
Tseng drives now, so this was nothing all that unusual. But the sudden change
in direction got me.
"Uh, Tseng...I live that
way," I said, jerking my thumb behind us.
"I know where you live,
Reno," he said with a smirk so wide it might�ve almost been a
grin. "We're going out for a drink. I wouldn�t mind one, and you look
like you need one."
A drink, huh? That caught my
attention. I�d have a drink with the Devil himself if He asked. And He was
asking. The only thing that could make drinking better is not paying for it, so
I decided to push my luck. "You buying?" I asked, feeling my usual
cocky grin creep back on my face where it belongs.
He considered this briefly.
"Well, since I�m not really giving you a choice...yes."
Well, now he was talking a
language I knew...
- 1
- 2
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Tough Love