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In
The Still Of The Night
Summer was a nice season, and Tseng enjoyed it. It meant beautiful sunsets and warm nights with Reeve on the balcony. It also meant the annual Shinra ball. And tonight was such a night.
He stood before the bathroom mirror, studying himself and straightening his tuxedo tie. Tseng had to admit he looked nice this evening. Long black hair neatly combed and falling just past his shoulders. He straightened his jacket and smiled a little.
Suddenly he jumped as a pair of arms snaked around his waist. Smiling and leaning back into the warm embrace he knew so well. He heard Reeve's voice purring in his ear as he rested his head on his friend's strong shoulder. "Mmm....who's that handsome man with the long black hair who looks absolutely *sinful* in his tux? You'll have to take him away, he's distracting the head of Urban Development."
Tseng chuckled, reaching back to cup Reeve's face in his hand. "You ready, Reeve?"
"I'd rather lie in bed with you," Reeve admitted.
"Aaah......." the Turk moaned softly, turning in the older man's arms, wrapping his own arms around Reeve's neck. "We can lie together later..." He kissed him lightly, teasing him with his lips. "...And I'll be inside you, yes?"
It was Reeve's turn to moan, and he did ever so softly, cupping the back of the younger man's head in his hand and kissing him deeply.
Tseng shut his eyes, and was lost in the kiss until Reeve drew away slowly. Nipping at his lips three more times before drawing away completely. "We had better go now before I strip you right here and kiss every inch of that beautiful body."
"Oh....Reeve...." Tseng sighed lightly, eyes drifting over his friend's
tuxedo clad form. "You look so beautiful tonight."
He most
certainly did. Reeve, with his black hair slicked back from his face, dark
green eyes shining and goatee neatly trimmed, looked very sleek, an appearance
Tseng found so attractive. "You look wonderful in that tux."
"Even Hojo can look good in a tux," Reeve kidded as he ushered the younger man outside before stepping out himself to lock the door. "Which, of course, makes you a walking erection."
"Reeve!!" exclaimed the Turk, blushing slightly.
Reeve put an arm around him, and together they left for the ball.
"Hey! Look who it is!" Reno waved from his seat, already surrounded by three beers.
"Reno, hello." Tseng smiled flatly. "Have you been here for 3 minutes already?"
"Ha ha," the red head answered dryly. "Hysterical as always, Tseng. How can you be friends with him, Reeve?" Reno kidded.
Reeve grinned and shot his friend an affectionate glance. "I really don't know."
"Hey, Reno." Rude came over, still wearing his sunglasses even though they were inside. "Liza from accounting was talkin' about how she wants ta dance with ya."
The read head raised an eyebrow and put out his cigarette. "Oh yeah? She easy?"
"So I heard. I just hope her friend is." The bald man grinned.
"Hell yes, man! Let's go!" The Turk was on his feet in seconds and together he and his friend headed across the room.
"Crowded, huh?" Tseng commented as they both sat at the vacated table.
"Yeah, Shinra never seems so big when you're stuck in an office."
"I'm wondering if Rufus was invited." Black eyes surveyed the room.
"I doubt it." Reeve snuck his hand under the table and fitted it over the other man's knee. "Would you like a drink?"
"Hmm....some peppermint schnapps, please," the Turk requested, his hand casually slipping under the table to fit over Reeve's.
Reeve smiled at him, squeezing his friend's knee before getting up. "Peppermint, huh?" Then he added softly before he walked away, "Mmm....you'll taste wonderful."
Tseng felt another blush creep up on his cheeks.
Tseng stood among them, nursing his drink and listening to their chatter. "Yes, she's quite pretty," replied the head Turk. He had no idea who they were talking about.
"Yeah, so see, Rude?" the red head turned to his friend.
Rude said nothing.
Tseng sighed and glanced back to the dance floor where many happy couples were embraced as a slow song was played. A strange sadness came over him as he watched. Dancing like that pressed up against one another, a head on your lover's shoulder, that was something he and Reeve could never do. What, with all those other people... With a sad little sigh, he turned back to the bar.
"Hey," Tseng felt an arm snake around his waist for a moment, then it was gone again.
The dark haired Turk turned and found he was face to face with Reeve. "Love," he said quietly, "enjoying the party?"
Reeve shrugged his shoulder and settled his shoulder against his friends. "It's not bad. Are you enjoying yourself?"
Tseng barely shook his head and looked down at his glass.
"What is it?" Reeve whispered.
Sighing once again, the younger man turned to face the dance floor.
Reeve looked from his lover to the scene on the floor and understood immediately. "I see." For a moment he was still. Then he turned to his friend, said, "Wait right here," and was gone again.
Tseng was confused, but he turned back to the bar and sipped his drink.
Tseng turned and locked eyes with his friend. "Huh?"
"Can you come with me, please?" There was a definite sparkle in his eye.
"A-all right." He was taken by the arm, out of the door and down the hallway. Along the way Reeve's hand took his, and they walked hand in hand up a red carpeted spiral staircase.
"Reeve....where are you taking me?" The Turk was smiling as he followed.
"You'll see, darling, you'll see."
They came to a balcony that was shielded by two French doors. Reeve unlocked them, and the pair stepped out into the clear summer night. The stars were out and they lit the sky, painting it with brilliance. Tseng looked around in amazement as Reeve led him to the middle of the balcony. "Oh....Reeve..."
"Hm." The older man smiled, drawing the younger man tightly into his arms. "What do you think?"
The Turk cupped his friend's face in his hands. "I think you're amazing. ...Why? Why did you do this?"
"....Because I want to make you happy." A hand gently brushed the younger man's cheek. "And because I wanted to dance with you."
Tseng raised an eyebrow, and then he heard it, and opening bars to a slow song--Reeve's favorite. "You requested--"
"May I have this dance?" Reeve tightened his grip on the younger man's waist.
Barely nodding, the Turk put his arms around his lover's back, resting his head on a familiar shoulder as the notes drifted up onto the balcony.
Shoo-doo, shooby-doo
Shoo-doo, shooby-doo
Shoo-doo, shooby-doo
Shoo-doo, shooby-doo
Tseng shut his eyes as he swayed with Reeve, listening to him breathe. The older man's lips were positioned besides his ear as he softly began to sing along in his baritone voice.
"In the still of the night... I held you... Held you tight.... For I love.... Love you so.... Promise I'll never... Let you go.... In the still of the night..."
And the words were echoed from below.
In the still of the night.
Tseng held Reeve as close as possible, and the older man continued to sing quietly.
"I remember...... That night in May...... The stars..... Were bright above...... I'll hope..... And I'll pray........ To keep...your precious love.............. Well before........ The light....... Hold me again....... With all of your might.... In the still of the night."
Again the words were echoed by the song playing below.
"...Reeve?"
"Yes?" Reeve's arms wound more tightly around him.
"I love you." The words were whispered.
"Aah...." The older man nuzzled against the Turk. "Oh, my darling."
"Keep singing to me?" he requested softly.
And he continued. "I remember...... That night in May...... The stars..... Were bright above...... I'll hope..... And I'll pray........ To keep...your precious love.............. Well before........ The light....... Hold me again....... With all of your might.... In the still of the night."
The echoed notes floated up to the balcony.
"Oh, Reeve.... This is so perfect." Tseng looked up, and the older man moved to bring their forehead's together.
Reeve locked eyes with his friend and almost whispered the final verse. "I remember...... That night in May...... The stars..... Were bright above...... I'll hope..... And I'll pray........ To keep...your precious love.........................................."
The Turk pulled his lover down into a deep kiss, some tears in the corner of his black eyes.
And they entwined in the evening air, lost in their kiss, as the last song
of the last Shinra ball they would ever attend drifted up and ended in
the still of the night.
Owari
~*~