Work Text:
“Damn...” Reno stuck his hand out, feeling drops of rain on his skin. He looked up at the sky which had become the ugly, mottled greyish purple of an old bruise. “Bet you wish you'd asked for a transport, huh, boss?” Reno turned, looking back at Rufus with a small grin.
Rufus snorted, “Perhaps, but this way it takes us longer to return to father.” He said with a shrug, “Anything that delays a lecture by that man is a good thing.”
“If you say so.” Reno shoved his hands into his pockets as the heavens opened, “But I didn't bring an umbrella.” He watched the water hit Rufus, quickly making him resemble a pale, drowned rat. His grin broadened.
Rufus lifted his chin defiantly, a glint of amusement in his icy blue eyes, “What, do you think a little water is going to-” The rumble of thunder cut him off and he looked up, squinting through his sopping hair. “Ah...”
Reno laughed, grabbing Rufus' hand and dragging him towards a nearby building, a closed coffee shop with an awning. They stood beneath the cover and watched lightning flash in the sky. Reno ran both hands through his hair, shaking water out of it. Rufus held out his arms, inspecting the hem of his white trousers. “Ruined, huh?” Reno cocked his head, still smirking gleefully. “You look like a drowning victim.”
“Yes, well...I wasn't expecting a storm.”
“It's Junon, yo. Things're unpredictable.” Reno leaned back against the wall, his eyes reflecting the flashes of light, “But I kinda like storms, makes me feel alive.”
Rufus watched him, his face turned away to stare at the storm, his gaze drifted down to his exposed throat and chest. Water trickled down his neck, soaking into the collar of his shirt, Reno didn't seem bothered by the cold and damp. “Only fools stay out in the middle of a storm.” Rufus pointed out, watching several men run past, boots splashing through puddles.
Reno laughed under his breath, “Then I guess that makes us both fools, boss.”
“My father would agree with you.” Rufus looked up at the sky, watching lightning pierce the dark clouds.
“Your father's the real fool.” Reno replied, pushing himself away from the wall. He turned and lifted his hand, fingers spread as rain water dripped from them. His grin was bright, vivid. “C'mon,” He jerked his head towards the nearly empty street, “Come play with me.”
“Play...?” Rufus laughed then, “We're not children.”
“Maybe not but fun doesn't stop when you become an adult.” Reno pushed his hand forward, one eyebrow rising as if in challenge, “Unless you're too chicken. Afraid of a little rain, your highness?”
Rufus sniggered, “One day, you're going to get me into trouble.” He said even as he put his hand in Reno's, letting him pull him out from under the awning and into the deluge.
“It wouldn't be as fun if I had a stick up my ass like your old man.” Reno called over the rumble of thunder as they ran together into the middle of the street. The world trembled, the air thick and heavy as Reno pulled Rufus to a halt. He tipped his head back and let water wash over his face, he lifted his hands and ran them through his hair. His laugh was bright and when he opened his eyes there was a giddy gleam in them, his smile was as sharp as a blade. “In the slums you don't get to feel the rain on your face.” He shouted, dragging Rufus close by the collar of his shirt. He leaned in, breath hot against Rufus' cheek and mouth, “Down there its too damn stuffy, yo. No rain, no storms...” He sucked in a breath, tongue darting out to slide against Rufus' lower lip. Rufus held himself still against Reno's onslaught, it was all he could do not to grab his jacket and tear it off of him. He curled one hand around Reno's hip, tugging him closer. When he turned to try to catch Reno's lips in a kiss, Reno pulled away. “No freedom. Spent most of my life under those damn plates, so I like to make all the fun that I can now I'm free.” He said as thunder crashed overhead. Lightning reflected in Reno's eyes as he stepped back just enough to put some space between them, Rufus took that moment to steady his breath.
The hairs on Rufus' arms rose, a prickling sensation rippled across his skin. He looked up, the strange sensation intensifying.
“Feel that, boss?” Reno called, grinning from ear to ear like a lunatic, “Lightning's about to strike! Close by too!”
Just as he finished speaking a flash of light seared Rufus' vision, he lifted an arm to cover his eyes and there was a sound like an explosion. He stepped back and when he opened his eyes again, blinking rain and bright spots from his vision, he saw a crack in the concrete just outside the coffee shop. Reno whistled, pushing sopping hair back from his face. A bangle on his wrist gleamed with water, several faintly glowing balls of materia inside the slots. “Good job I bought protection.” He laughed.
“That was certainly...interesting.” Rufus breathed. “But I think I've had enough...fun...for one day.”
Reno pouted briefly before finally shrugging, “We'd better get back then, boss.”
Rufus nodded, hiding his shaking hands inside his pockets. He followed Reno back down the street, heading in the direction of a hotel.