How You Gonna See Me Now?

Rating: R
Category: AU
Pairing(s): Cid/Vincent, Reno/Cloud, Rufus/Reeve.
Warnings: Voyeurism.
Summary: A winter night’s truce leads to mischief – and revelations.
Notes: Birthday fic for ice_lady!

This fic has an accompanying illustration by Animama

How you gonna see me now?
Please don't see me ugly, babe.
'Cause I know I let you down
In oh so many ways…
- Alice Cooper, ‘How You Gonna See Me Now?’

“Okay,” said Yuffie. “This is the definition of cold. We’ve got the bad guys and the good guys all in the same tent.”

“And the good guys really appreciate it,” said Elena.

“Hey! We’re the good guys!”

“Good and evil are relative concepts,” said Rude. “No one perceives himself as evil.”

“He spoke!” said Tifa, and Elena laughed.

“He does, occasionally. Don’t you, Rude?”

Rude just shrugged. In the background, Reno pounced on Cloud, pinning him to the ground and shoving his tongue down his throat. Tseng watched this with a certain amount of disbelief, then looked at Rude.

“And just how long has that been going on?” he asked.

“How long has what been going on?” asked Rude, trying hard to look innocent and failing miserably.

Tseng gave Rude a withering gaze, while Elena opened her suit jacket and pulled out a flask.

“Who wants brandy?”

“Oh pass it this way, I’m freezing!” said Aeris.

“What are you people doing up here?” asked Barret.

“Following you!” said Elena.

“Well don’t follow us, ya silly twit!” said Cid. “We’re lost!”

Reno broke off kissing Cloud long enough to give Elena a smug look. “Told ya.”

“Well we’re not going anywhere for a while,” said Barret, peering out of their large canvas tent and into the savage mountain storm. “Looks like this truce is gonna go on for a day or two at least.”

“I’m fine with that,” said Tseng. “I’m fed up with this whole adventure.”

“You and me both!” said Aeris. “Stop chasing me!”

“Trust me, we’d like nothing better,” said Elena. “It’s that bloody Heidegger, and that bitch Scarlet. And fucking Hojo!”

“Glad to hear you hate him, too,” said Nanaki.

“Everybody hates Hojo,” said Elena. She took her flask back from Aeris and had a sip of the warming brandy. “Last week Reno and I broke into his office and ripped every fourth page out of his research paper.” She snickered. “I thought he was gonna explode when he found out.”

Cid howled with laughter. “You’re evil!”

“Evil, nothing!” said Reno, still lying on the floor of the tent with Cloud. “You haven’t heard the best part! No one plans payback like Elena! Tell them what you did to Scarlet!”

Elena snorted and giggled. “I stole her handbag, took out her tampons and injected each one with Tabasco sauce. Now she thinks she has a world-class STD.”

Aeris, Tifa and Yuffie shrieked. “You are a sick, vicious woman!” said Tifa.

“Why thank you!” said Elena.

Tseng stared at her. “Can you please not do stuff like that? Who do you think had to take the dried-up old hag to the gynaecologist?”

Barret chuckled. “Tseng my man, whatever they pay you, it ain’t enough.”

“Tell me about it. One night I had a phone call at two-forty-five in the morning. Rude and Elena had somehow managed to end up naked on the outside ledge of the Shinra tower on the sixty-seventh floor. So who do you suppose had to come rescue them?”

“What were you doing to end up in that mess?” asked Aeris.

“Long story,” said Elena. “Let’s just say it involved copious amounts of alcohol, two bags of itching powder, and a vacuum cleaner rigged to blow instead of suck.”

“No one needs to see Rude nude,” said Tseng. “I still have nightmares.”

“Here,” said Cid, passing him a bottle of whiskey from his backpack. “This will help wash them away.”

Tseng accepted the bottle gratefully, and had a drink. Aeris was contemplating the things she had just heard.

“Gee,” she said. “I suddenly feel so dull. All I ever did was make Cloud wear a dress.”

Whiskey shot out Tseng’s nose. Elena’s jaw dropped. “A dress?!”

“Yeah, a cute blue one with a bow in the back, and a wig and a little tiara on top.”

“Can we not talk about that?” said Cloud.

“Awww… I bet you were adorable,” said Reno, as Elena shrieked with laughter.

“Look it was the only way to get into Don Corneo’s house and save Tifa.”

“And then the Don took one look at Cloud and dragged him off to his bedchamber,” giggled Tifa.

“CAN WE PLEASE NOT TALK ABOUT THAT?!”

“Here, have a drink,” said Tseng, passing him the bottle.

“Gee, thanks, Turk Nose-Whiskey.”

“I sprayed out not in, thank you very much. And get off my Turk!”

“He’s off-duty right now,” said Cloud. “That makes him my Turk.”

“Figures the cute blonde and the hot red-head are paired up,” said Elena.

“Yeah not to mention the buff hunk and the little pretty gun-slinger,” said Tifa. “Pickings are darn slim in this party, I tell you.”

Elena looked over at Cid and Vincent, who were cuddled together; Vincent snuggled close to Cid, face against his throat, eyes closed.

“They are cute, though,” she said, then added; “The gunslinger could use a brushing.”

“We tried,” said Aeris. “The matts are permanent.”

Cid gently drew Vincent closer, stroking his hand over the tangled black hair. “He’s perfect just the way he is,” he said affectionately.

Vincent was exhausted, more asleep than awake, and he drew a breath, making a small sound. Cid melted.

“Awww… poor little guy. Too cold to go outside, and no place to lie down in here.”

“We’ll figure something out,” said Yuffie. “The tent’s not that small. We’ll just have to double up. It will be warmer that way, anyway.”

The unlikely companions found their places to sleep, sharing blankets and warmth. Barret and Rude ended up sharing a blanket, which was oddly appropriate since they snored in harmony. Cloud and Reno cuddled in the corner, Cloud spooned against his lover’s back, a protective arm around him, Reno holding onto his hand. Vincent somehow managed to sleep in a position that was more or less beneath Cid. Tifa, Elena, and Aeris were in a heap with Nanaki, which left Yuffie scrunched up against Tseng, arm flung across his shoulders, snoring against the back of his neck. Tseng was too tired and cold to care.

Cait Sith, being an animatronic creation, did not feel the cold. However he had been programmed to behave like a living creature, and a living creature in this situation would quite naturally seek out warmth. He made his way over to Tseng, having to scramble over Yuffie to reach him. He climbed onto her hip, and then suddenly lost his balance, slipping and falling onto Tseng, startling him into wakefulness. Tseng’s fist shot out with lethal accuracy, sending the small cat flying, waking up most of the tent as he hit the canvas wall and crashed to the floor. Bodies sat up, yawning and concerned.

“What was that?” asked Cloud.

“Me, punching the cat,” said Tseng. “Did I break him?”

Cid reached up to turn on the flashlight dangling from the roof of the tent, and picked up Cait’s limp little body. A small panel on his stomach had popped open, revealing a switch with three settings; transmit, receive, and auto-pilot.

“Don’t think so. I think you just flipped his switch. Trouble is I don’t know what he was set to.”

Cid reached in and pulled the little red switch into the ‘receive’ position, locking eyes with Tseng as the sound of quiet snoring came forth from the animatronic cat.

“What’s that?” asked Cid.

“Must be Reeve,” said Tseng.

They listened to the quiet snoring. Cid was about to try another setting, when they heard the soft of knocking, then a door being pushed open.

“Reeve?” asked a voice.

Cloud raised his head. “Is that Rufus Shinra? What’s he doing at Reeve’s place?”

“Reeve’s apartment building caught fire,” said Elena. “He’s living in his office right now.”

“Oh how awful,” said Aeris.

“I wouldn’t feel too badly for him,” said Reno. “He has his own washroom, a bed, a fireplace, a bar… he could easily live there the rest of his days.”

“But it’s still terrible he lost his home.”

“Reeve?” said Rufus, his voice soft. “Are you awake?”

The snoring abruptly ceased, and they heard Reeve draw breath, as if yawning.

“Mr. President. I didn’t hear you come in.”

“No, I don’t suppose you did. You shouldn’t fall asleep at your desk. It’s not very good for your neck.”

“I’m sorry, I just closed my eyes for a moment…”

“Reeve there is no need to apologize. One in the morning hardly qualifies as office hours.”

“I suppose not. What are you doing here?”

“Insomnia. What are you doing here?”

“Homeless.”

Pause. “I should think you’re a little better paid than that,” said Rufus dryly.

Reeve laughed. “Yes, sir. But my downstairs neighbour decided to fall asleep while frying eggs, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

“Ah, yes. Life would be so much easier if it were not for other people. But not very much fun.”

Cid yawned, and was about to suggest they try a different setting, when he heard Rufus speak again.

“Actually, Reeve, when I saw the light on beneath your door I was hoping you would be here. There is something I’ve wanted to say to you for quite some time.”

Elena sat up. “If he’s mean to Reeve, I’m putting hair remover in his conditioner.”

“Is that what happened to Rude?” asked Barret.

“Shh!” said Tifa.

The group in the tent began sitting up, listening to the transmission from the cat like people gathered around an old-time radio show.

“Something… you wished to say to me, sir?”

“Yes. I’ve wanted to say this for quite some time, but was concerned with how you may view the admission. I thought perhaps after hours over a drink would be the best time. Brandy?”

“Thank you.”

“We need popcorn,” said Aeris.

“I’ve got popcorn,” said Elena.

She dove into her pack and pulled out a large bag of caramel corn. She tore it open and shared the contents while the group of people continued to listen. They heard ice clinking in a glass as the two men drank, as well as Rufus’ slow, measured step across the hardwood floor. The tension was palpable, and all strained to hear what Rufus had to say.

“I’m a powerful man, Reeve. As a result I have to be very careful about the people who are closest to me. I make it my business to learn all there is to know about them. I have to protect myself. I have to know if I can trust them.” There was a pause. “You’ve been a very naughty boy, Reeve.”

“FUCK!” yelled Tseng, startling everyone in the tent. They stared at the tall handsome man, who was clearly upset, sweat beginning to form on his face.

“Tseng?” said Reno. “What…?”

Tseng waved him to silence, listening.

“Naughty?” said Reeve, trying to sound innocent.

“Don’t get cute with me. Father was a fat mindless blow-hard who thought if he threw enough money at a problem, it would vanish. He did not understand such things as ethics, and personal beliefs, and principles. Small wonder as he had none. But I… do things differently, Reeve.”

“Oh I’ve heard that speech before,” muttered Aeris, looking concerned.

Yuffie looked up at Tseng. “He’s not gonna kill Reeve, is he?”

Tseng shrugged, shaking his head. They continued to listen.

“Differently, sir?” said Reeve, his voice quavering slightly.

“Differently,” said Rufus. “I delve. I dig. I like to know who is working me for. It spares me sleepless nights, wondering what hand clutches the Sword of Damocles.” There was a brief pause, and the sound of ice clinking. “I know all about the little secret agent games you and Tseng are playing.”

“FUCK!” Tseng screamed again, bringing his palms up to his temples. “I’m dead. I’m a dead man. There is no place on the planet I can run to. He’ll find me!”

Elena grabbed his wrist, trying to comfort him.

“What game?” asked Aeris, distressed. “What are you doing? What does he know?!”

“We’ll find you a place,” said Reno. “Because we’re going to all need to hide now, yo. If he knows about you, he knows about everything else, too.”

“What are you people talking about?!” demanded Tifa.

The tent abruptly fell silent as there was the sound of a glass smashing, and the thud of a body hitting the ground. Elena gasped in horror.

“He killed him! He killed Reeve!”

“How?” asked Cid. “I didn’t hear anything!”

There was the sound of footsteps walking quickly across the floor, and of a body being dragged, and a soft voice.

“There, there,” said Rufus softly, gently. “Just catch your breath, there’s a good boy. Have a drink.”

“Don’t sound like murder to me,” said Barret.

“Are you going to kill me?” asked Reeve.

There came a pause. “Kill you?” Rufus’ voice nearly screeched with disbelief. “Is that what you thought this was about?”

“You said you knew!”

“I do know. I think perhaps you misinterpreted me. When I said I have to be very careful about the people around me, I meant it. This… tower… my father built is a shrine to evil. Most people here would slit another man’s throat for a three cent promotion. It makes it difficult to know who to trust, who to confide in…. who to have feelings for.”

Jaws dropped, and people exchanged glances.

“Did I hear that right?” asked Aeris.

“So… you’re not going to kill me,” said Reeve.

“No,” said Rufus, his voice soft, a touch of amusement in his tone. “I’m not going to kill Tseng and his merry little group of miscreants, either.”

Tseng collapsed in relief. Reno flung his head back and raised his hands to the heavens. “THANK YOU!”

Cloud slipped an arm around him, holding him close, the group once more falling silent as they listened.

“But… how did you find out?” asked Reeve, clearly still worried.

“I’m crafty,” purred Rufus. “And unlike father, I keep up on the security technology. I can read a log entry. I know it was Tseng who let Aeris and her little band of intrepid adventurers loose, just as I know it was he who freed Aeris and her mother in the first place.”

Aeris’ jaw dropped, and she swung her head to look at Tseng, her expression one of shock and disbelief. “You…?” she whispered.

Tseng did not look at her, keeping his eyes fixed on the animatronic cat. Rufus continued to speak.

“That child has had him wrapped around her little finger since day one,” said Rufus. “He’s a clever kitty but he’s not that clever. If he’s going to hack into Shinra security and re-write commands for the cell doors then he has to stop doing it from his own computer.”

“You moron!” said Cid. Tseng closed his eyes and brought his hand up to his face, shaking his head.

“You… saved me,” said Aeris in a small voice. Tseng kept his head down, unable to face her as she gazed at him.

“This is way better than daytime soaps,” said Yuffie, stuffing popcorn into her face.

“Why are you telling me all this?” asked Reeve.

“I should think it’s obvious, don’t you?”

“You’re going to use it against me, to make me do something for you, aren’t you?” asked Reeve.

“And what will I do with it? Tell the president of the company?” There was a pause, and then Rufus asked softly; “Am I really that ugly to you?”

“I… don’t know. I don’t know what to think of you.”

“I’ve done some very ugly things in my life, Reeve. Chances are I shall do them again. That’s the true horror of this company. It cannot create, only corrupt. And I am trapped at the helm. But I want to change that. I want to dig out the cancers that eat at it. I want to bring in good people. I want things here to change. Because, Reeve, I don’t care if the rest of the world sees me as a monster, but I don’t want to seen as ugly by you, NEVER by you. I’ve seen the disgust in your eyes when you look at me, and I cannot bear it. I’m a monster, Reeve, and I’ve done a thousand things that keep you up at night, and failed you in ways I probably do not even realize. But I want to change.”

“Then prove it. Let me rebuild sector seven. There are still people trapped in there, living in the wreckage, whole families trapped in pockets here and there throughout. Let me send in rescue teams!”

“Done,” said Rufus softly. “What do you need?”

Reeve was silent. It was clear this was not the answer he had anticipated.

“You’ll… let me?”

“Absolutely.”

“But… your father…”

“Father is dead. I danced on his grave personally. If I knew where Sephiroth was I’d give him a medal, not that he’d have room for one more. Perhaps I would just give him Hojo.”

“I’m starting to like this man,” said Cid.

“So you really will…”

“Yes,” said Rufus softly.

“Why?”

“I told you. What you think matters to me.”

“Sir, why should you care what I think?”

Rufus chuckled. It was not a nice sound. “Dear Reeve. Such a virgin.”

“Sir you’re… awful close.”

“I plan to get closer, if you’ll let me.”

“Sir… you’re…”

“Call me Rufus.”

“Sir…”

Reeve made a small, startled gasp. Nanaki looked around at his friends, listening in spellbound silence.

“You realize the polite thing to do now is turn off the receiver,” said Nanaki.

“Shh,” said Aeris.

They listened to the sounds emanating from the animatronic cat; the creak of leather, the rustle of clothing, the sound of breathing. Then they heard Reeve, panting quietly.

“And what if I say no?”

“Then I suppose I will have no choice but to leave you alone for now and try for your charms another day.”

“No firing? No demotion? No veiled threats?”

“No. None of the above. I shall slink back into the night from whence I came, alone and cold. But I would much rather stay here with you.”

“Sir we can’t do this, if word got out…”

“What? My reputation as a sick vicious bastard will be tainted?”

“Man has a point,” said Barret.

“Yeah, and it’s in his pants,” said Elena. Tifa, Aeris and Yuffie snorted and giggled.

“You know this sort of thing isn’t approved of,” said Reeve.

“What sort of thing? Sex in the office?”

“Well I was thinking more along the lines of sex with your underlings…”

“But you’re not under me yet.”

“AND there is the issue of homosexuality…”

“Oh dear, pissant little peon nobodies shall refuse to do business with me, I shall have to be content to merely be a multi-billionaire with the largest corporation on the planet.”

“Sir you’re not taking me seriously, this could ruin you.”

“Reeve, I’m a big boy. I’m all grown up. I’m not afraid of a little scandal. And perhaps that’s an issue that should be looked into as well. I find the idea of having to keep one’s lover locked up like a dirty secret most distasteful. I know Reno would probably very much appreciate being able to love his short-ass little blonde toy-boy openly.”

“SHORT?!” exclaimed Cloud.

“The pilot and the gunslinger would appreciate it, too,” said Vincent softly, smiling faintly as Cid cuddled him close.

“Well, we could start by making acceptance of gay employees Shinra policy,” said Reeve.

“We could,” said Rufus. “We could go a step further and extend the same benefits to gay couples as we do the straight ones.”

“This is crap!” said Barret. “He’s making me like him!”

“How do we know he’s not just saying all this to get up Reeve’s skirt?” said Yuffie.

Tseng shook his head. “No way. If all Rufus wanted was a lay, he wouldn’t negotiate. He’d go find someone else. It’s not like there isn’t a line-up.”

“Tseng’s right,” said Tifa. “Men like Rufus Shinra don’t barter for sex. They don’t have to.”

“Then he must really like him,” said Yuffie. “He’s promising a lot.”

Reeve seemed to be having the same doubts Yuffie was. “How do I know you’re not just saying all this?”

“What proof needs must I lay at thy feet?” Rufus whispered.

“He’s good,” said Cid. “I’d fuck him.”

The tent erupted in laughter. Miles away, Reeve stared into eyes the colour of polar ice.

“I want you to prove it by deeds. If you want me, then you have to be willing to stay the night. No slinking off into the darkness. And I want to see the paperwork for the policies and for the reconstruction of sector seven drawn up with your signature on it.”

“But first, why don’t we have breakfast at Sterling Road? I suspect you’ll be hungry.”

“Breakfast?”

“Ever heard of it?”

“Yes, but… at Sterling Road? That place is booked months in advance!”

“Reeve, darling, who are you talking to?”

“You.”

“And who am I?”

Reeve chuckled. “You’re right. Sorry. Wasn’t thinking.”

“Thinking is highly over-rated. You have a lovely throat.”

There was a loud ripping noise.

“I liked that shirt,” said Reeve with some irritation.

“I’ll buy you another.”

“We really should not be listening,” said Nanaki.

“Shh,” said Reno.

“Let’s take this over to the bed,” said Rufus softly.

“All right,” said Reeve, voice equally quiet.

They heard the sound of the two men rising from the leather couch, walking across the hardwood floor.

“Reeve, before I forget...”

“Yes?”

“The pretty little gunslinger they found in Shinra Manor… the former Turk. What’s his name?”

“Let me think… Valentine. Vincent Valentine.”

“I need him found. Get Tseng and Reno on it, would you? He’s with Aeris and Cloud so I daresay they won’t have much trouble locating him.”

Reeve laughed quietly. “And do what with him?”

Cid meanwhile was gently pulling Vincent close, holding him protectively.

“I need you to give him the files I found on the alterations done to his body, he deserves to know what was done to him.”

“You think he doesn’t know?” asked Reeve, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

“I’m sure he knows, my love,” said Rufus softly. “But he may not know everything. The man has a right to understand himself.”

“How can he ever understand what was done to him? What Hojo did was not science, it was sadism.”

“And we shall make Hojo pay, rest assured. I’ve found all his little secret files on all his little secret experiments. He’s done too many things to too many people. He’ll be arrested the moment he next steps foot in the lab. And it will not be jail he faces. Not for his crimes. No, after the Courts are through with him, it will be the gas chamber I suspect.”

“And not too soon,” said Aeris softly. She looked towards Tseng, but he still could not look at her, though she was not sure why. Shyness seemed so strange on him. She reached out and took his hand. He did not look at her, but he smiled faintly.

“Amen to that,” whispered Vincent.

“Lie down beside me,” Rufus said, his tone gentle. “Please.”

They heard Reeve lie down on the bed, and the shifting of bodies.

“I love you,” whispered Rufus. “I always have. And I shall do anything I can to prove it. I know you don’t trust me. I don’t blame you. But if it is at all possible, I shall win the trust in your eyes.”

“Then do not betray it. Keep the promises you made tonight.”

“Even the ones unspoken, my love.”

There was the soft sound of a kiss, and of clothing being discarded. Then Nanaki reached out one red paw and gently flipped the switch to auto-pilot.

“We’ve spied enough for one night,” he said.

***---***

“Blech. What a mess,” said Yuffie.

“Well, we ain’t going nowhere for a few days,” said Barret, surveying the great slides of mud, water and boulders that had encased the area around the small protected enclosure in which their tent sat.

“Probably just as well,” said Tifa, looking towards Tseng and Aeris. They were standing at the far end of their campsite, near the great stone outcrops that had protected their tent. “I think those two have a few things to work out.”

“I wonder if Rufus really took Reeve out to that fancy place for breakfast?” said Yuffie.

“I’d be more interested in finding out what’s in those files of Vincent’s,” said Barret. “But I s’pose that ain’t none of my business.”

“Not unless he chooses to share it with us,” said Tifa, giggling as she watched Cloud and Reno chasing each other, both glad to be in the sunlight.

Cid emerged from the tent, cigarette in his teeth, strolling across the short, mossy grass, stretching his powerful body. Moments later the tall, thin form of Vincent emerged behind him.

“They are cute together,” said Tifa.

“Sorta mismatched,” said Barret, “but yeah, they’re cute. Vincent’s not really my cup of tea but I hope he’s okay. I like him. And I think Cid would be devastated if anything was the matter with him.”

“Well at least once he has the files, he’ll know if he has anything to worry about,” said Tifa.

Yuffie watched as Vincent stumbled over to the rock wall, hanging over it to vomit, Cid coming to his side, moving his long hair out of the way.

“Maybe it will explain why Vincent’s upchucked for three days in a row,” she said.

“Funny how he only seems to do it in the mornings,” said Barret. “Rest of the time he’s fine.”

“Yeah, it is odd,” said Tifa.

The three considered that for a moment, then exchanged glances.

“Couldn’t be,” said Barret. “Let’s go get breakfast.”