Dreams of the Dead

I watched the guards ask themselves why they bothered now that the company was finished. They dropped their guns and left, leaving me alone in the conference room. I was only a little aware of these events for my mind was in my toy cat up on the Highwind. I was listening to Cloud give his speech on why we fight and that we should all leave the Highwind to seek out the reasons for fighting against Sephiroth for ourselves. With that I shut down Cait Sith and stood up from my chair. It was time to get out of the tower. As I stepped out of the conference room though I knew I had something to do first.

I moved up quickly to the 69th floor, wondering if it was even possible to reach the 70th. The floor was strewn with rubble and it was quite dark. Fumbling around in one of the desks I found a flashlight. Once it was turned on I could see that one of the sets of stairs was still intact enough to climb. There was some rubble in my way but I managed to make in to the top. Sweeping my flashlight I found almost at once what I had come to find. I turned my head to the side; feeling tears well up in my eyes. It was not like I expected to find him alive, I knew I wouldn't. It was just the reality of seeing him there and knowing it to be true. The tears rolled down my cheeks and into my goatee.

I forced myself to creep forward and look. The left side of his face was char blasted right down to the bone. His right eye stared blankly at the ceiling, a look of shock registering in it. I closed my eyes, the tears coming more now as I reached my hand and touched his cold cheek. It brought back fond memories of him, almost too much to bear now that he was gone. Opening my eyes I moved my hand to close his. I couldn't just leave his body here like the others had. Scarlet, with all her flirting, has obviously never cared about him. Not like me.

I took his body into my arms, getting his blood all over my suit. It became difficult to stand, not because he was hard to lift, but because my knees were shaking with sorrow. My eyes blurred with more tears as I pushed on to the stairs. It was finally time to leave this wretched place that had destroyed so many, including him. It nearly took me too, but I hung on. I hung on because he couldn't any more. It had been like we were drowning in a sea of corruption. He was sure to sink from the leaden boots, and me along with him for we clung together. What he did, though, was let me go so I would survive and only he would drown. I took it as a finally act of love, wanting me to survive where he would not. I blame his father of course, the one who had strapped on the weights to make him drown in corruption. If not for that I might have helped him to the shore I have found. Now, though, all I can do is take him from the tower and bury him.

I did not care about the stares I got as I made my way through the slums. I'm not sure how many of them recognized him or how many just saw me as a man cradling the body of another man to his chest.

"Oh my " A merchant said as he came to my side, "Is that the new president?"

"I nodded slowly. "Weapon. I need to get out of Midgar so I can bury him." It was hard for me to hide the pain in my eyes.

"You can't get out of Midgar yet." He told me, "You'd better come inside. I'll I'll find some ice or something."

"Thank you." I couldn't help but sniffle as I followed him into the small house. His wife looked at me with surprise, but he whispered in her ear and she left the room.

"You can sit down if you want." He pointed to the couch. I sat, holding the body in my lap, and felt the grief flood through me. This time the tears were not just for Rufus, but all of Midgar. Our doom was approaching; Meteor and Sephiroth. Cloud told us to be sure of our reasons for fighting. As I looked upon the body in my lap I knew it was for him that I would fight. For the part of him that I had loved, the part that had been drowned in the sea of corruption.

I stroked my fingers through his slightly charred golden hair as I leaned back. Ever since I had met Cloud Strife I had not slept with my body. My mind stayed active in my toy cat, making me unable to dream. Now, as I held the cold body, I dreamed of him warm as I dragged him from the sea.

I looked down at his drenched self as I sat on the beach of the tiny island. All around was the sea of corruption. Finally I was safe from it. Rufus wasn't moving though, for in the real world he was dead. But here he was still warm so I did what I could to drive the vile liquid from his lungs.

He coughed as he started breathing again and brought his hand up to my cheek. I smiled as he opened his eyes and looked up at me.

"Reeve " He murmured, "You came for me?"

"How could I not?" I took his hand and kissed it as I looked down at him.

He sat up and leaned his head against my shoulder. "I drowned Reeve couldn't save myself, just you."

I put my arm around his chest, holding him tight. "Have I managed to save you? You are here now."

He looked up at me, his blue eyes sparkling. "It seems that you have. All that you have done has brought me back to save me from my own evils."

I stroked his hair and felt my dream change to a night on the beach. It was Costa Del Sol and we were clad only in swimming trunks. It was a beautiful memory of that warm night. We were kissing passionately, our tongues entwined as we lay in the sand. No one else was on the beach, just him and me.

I felt his hands move down my back, one slipping into the back of my trunks. He was always very passionate and his hands made me melt. I was quite hard, as I could tell he was as well, when he slid my trunks off. His hand came around and surrounded my cock, stroking me gently. I let out soft moans, tossing his trunks off as well. I kissed him deeply as I stroked him as he did for me. He moaned and got his hair covered with sand as he threw back his head. He came back to retake my lips and mouth. His tongue probed my mouth as we rubbed our bodies together.

We climaxed together as we lay on the sand of the Costa Del Sol beach. Then the scene changed to us on my couch, watching a fire. Our arms were around each other; our bodies drenched with the sweat of lovemaking. His head was on my shoulder, a smile on his lips. I ran my fingers through his soft gold hair, feeling him cuddle closer to my side. Then the cat jumped up on us. He laughed, as did I. Oh, how I miss the sound of his laughter.

I awoke from my dream to the reality of his dead body in my lap. The kind merchant who had taken me in was poking me.

"Ah," He said, "You're awake. I got the ice ready."

For a moment I didn't know what he meant. When it came to me I stood, still cradling the body. "Alight." I let out a deep sigh as he led me to the bathroom. The tub had been filled up with ice waiting for its burden. Lowering Rufus's body into the ice I stroked my fingers through his hair again. "I'll fight for you." I murmured as I leaned over and planted a kiss on the un-charred section of his forehead. And I knew it too. He was the reason I had to help kill Sephiroth.

I felt tired so I turned to the merchant and asked, "Do you have a place I can sleep?"

"Why sure. You can take the couch you were on before."

I bowed my head. "Thank you." I trudged back to the couch and lay down. As soon as I closed my eyes sleep claimed me.

"I didn't expect to see you here." Rufus told me. It was another memory, this time just after we had met. His hair was drenched in sweat and he wore a track shirt and pants.

"I didn't know you'd be here." I told him, heading off to the locker room, my gym bag slung over one shoulder. As I changed into my sweats I could hear him hitting into the punching bag in the other room. I figured cause of the amount of sweat he was showing, that he had been at it for quite a while.

After I came back out he turned to me and said, "Well, now that you are here, do you box at all?" I could see that his fists were all red from the punching, despite the cloth wrapping them.

"Well, just a little. I got into a couple of minor fights when I was a kid. Sort of learned how to box back then. I'm not really good at it."

"No sweat Reeve. How about you let me teach you a thing or two?"

I was quiet for a moment, wondering a little about him. Our eyes met and I could see his fiery spirit. I suddenly smiled and said, "Alright. You know, I didn't see you as some one who boxed."

Rufus grinned slightly as he stood beside the punching bag. "I guess you didn't see me as someone who spent ten years in a military boarding school."

I cocked an eyebrow. "You did?"

He nodded. "My old man had no clue what to do with me so he packed me up and shipped me off when I was seven. I guess he didn't want some kid running around the building pulling pranks and swiping stuff."

"I just didn't expect that."

"Well, you going to learn how to box from me or just stand there?"

I advanced to stand before him. "I'm ready to learn."

"Good. Pick up gloves and a mouth guard then follow me." He pointed to the glove rack, which also held sterilized mouth guards. He got himself set up and walked over to the ring, which was in the far corner. I quickly followed suit, tasting the foul antiseptic from the mouth guard in my mouth.

I'm not sure what happened after getting into the ring since he got me down quickly with his fists. After that he took me through blocking and punching without hitting me. In no time I was sweating just as much as he had when I first walked in.

"Was that good for you?" He teased, taking out his mouth guard.

I chuckled. "Yeah, good work out. Thanks for the boxing lesson."

"No problem." He headed for the locker room after tossing his gloves aside. "I'm gonna hit the showers."

I was busy taking my gloves off so when I looked up I saw him naked but for the towel rapped around his waist, and got a little startled.

"Hey Reeve," He said, leaning on the door frame, "If you're not busy tonight you are welcome to join the Turks and I for drinks out. We meet in the lobby at 8:00." He turned and walked to the showers, tossing the towel aside and pulling the curtain around.

"Um sure." I stammered. I was suddenly aware that I had become mildly aroused. The heat of embarrassment crept into my cheeks.

Fear as well. I had never felt attracted to a guy (Sephiroth does not count) before. This bothered me, not just because it was over a guy, but because of whom he was; the president of the company's own son.

It's just all the exercise. I told myself, laying down on one of the mats. I must have dozed off cause when I opened my eyes I saw Rufus, his hair slicked back from his shower, standing over me.

"I don't suggest falling asleep here." He told me.

I sat up. "Thanks for the warning."

"No problem. Remember to be in the lobby at 8:00 if you're coming." He walked out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

When I entered the lobby at 8:00 pm I noticed two men in navy blue suits talking. One was bald and wore shades over his eyes. The other had dishevelled red hair mostly tied back in a ponytail. The red haired one was really the one doing the talking.

"So, I said to the guy," the talkative one went on, "He'd better get out of my face before I made him as bald as you."

Baldy chuckled lightly. It was obvious that the two were friends.

"Well any way," The redhead went on, "Where are Rufus and Tseng?"

At that point I knew the two men were of the infamous Turks. I was a little surprised. Ok, so baldy looked the part of the cold-blooded assassin, but his friend was scrawny and looked to have slept in his clothes. I didn't get to go any further with my thoughts because I saw Rufus stepping out of the elevator.

"Sorry I'm late guys," He said as he walked over to us, "Got called into the old man's office."

"Ouch," The red haired Turk said, "What was he doing here this late?"

"Yelling at me, what else?" He looked at each of us. "Oh, Reno, Rude, I want you too meet Reeve, our new head of urban development. Reeve this is Reno," he pointed to the red head who took a mock bow, "and Rude." Baldy just stood there with his shades on "Where is Tseng?"

"I don't know." Reno told him, "He'll probably be here any minute." Reno turned to me and slapped me on the back. "So Reeve, you as quiet as my pal or as talkative as me?"

"Um, middle?" I ventured.

Reno laughed. "Wow, well, ne blood is goof. You haven't heard any of my jokes yet."

"And bore the man to death?" a voice said from the steps.

"Hey Tseng!" Hollered Reno.

"Tseng," Rufus said to the black haired man with the no-nonsense face, "We got a new addition to our little crew tonight. This is Reeve Brannon, the new head of urban development."

Tseng approached me, his face set. I felt his eyes watching me like a hawk, making me feel uncomfortable.

"Are we going yet?" Whined Reno, "I don't want to be sober any longer then I have to."

"Heh." Went Rude, the first time I'd heard him speak.

"Yeah," Said Rufus, "We are all here. Let's get going."

I followed the crew to one of the Midgar sector five plate bars. I wound up sitting between Rufus and Reno over in the corner booth. Drinks were in rounds and I was not at all used to them. I was still sipping my first while the other four were on their third. Reno was trying to tell me a joke about a girl in a bar.

"You tell that one every time " Rufus remarked, finishing the beer in his hand.

"Well," Reno replied, "Reeve here hadn't heard it yet."

"You should have spared him." Tseng said.

"It's ok." I said, not having spoken much that night.

"Pay no attention to Tseng," Reno told me, "He has no sense of humor."

"I have one," Tseng replied, "You just aren't funny."

For some reason we all started laughing, even Tseng. I'm not really sure why it was so funny. Maybe it was cause we were all getting drunk.

"We need more booze." Rude said blankly.

"We need another round over here!" Reno shouted, finishing off the last of his drink. He and Rude had split my other two so they had already drunken four. I figured both drank like fish.

"Coming." The waiter said from across the room, gathering up the fourth round.

"How well are you hanging in there?" Rufus asked me.

"I'm ok. Only had one so far. I'll probably drink a second."

He nodded and grinned slightly. "Just watch yourself if you are not used to this. Stick close if you get drunk cause some people just like to pick you off when you are alone."

"Thanks for the warning."

"Just ask Reno here, he can tell you."

"That was a long time ago." Reno replied, "I'll never let it happen again."

The waiter came with our round. Reno automatically ploughed into his beer, practically inhaling it. I picked up my second and began drinking slowly. I'm not sure how long it was before I was finishing my third beer. I remember the three Turks standing up and Rufus slapping me on the back.

"You three go on, "Rufus told them, "I'll help Reeve here home."

I watched the three blue suits stagger out before I looked to Rufus. "Thanks." I slurred slightly.

"Come on Reeve, I'll help you home." He helped me rise to my feet as I swayed slightly. As I looked at him I wondered how he could hold as much alcohol as he did. I saw a thin smile creep onto his lips as he placed one arm around my back to keep me supported. "Where do you live?" He asked.

"Um, the black towers."

"Then I'd better take you there. Not used to drinking?"

"Not for a while."

"I suppose you still have to build up tolerance." He led me out the door, heading off toward my apartment.

"Yeah, I do." I fumbled for my keys and managed to open the door. Rufus kept me from falling as I made my way to my bed.

"Get your sleep Reeve, you're going to have one hell of a hangover in the morning." He walked back to the door as I crashed on my bed.

"Night." I fell asleep before I heard him leave.

In the present I awoke from my dreams of my past. I had work to do. Plugging my consciousness back into Cait Sith I found most of the others already waiting on the Highwind.