Author: Az

Title: This shit is bananas - B.A.N.A.N.A.S.

Email: az.ombie[at]gmail.com

Homepage: http://www.forgottenjuliet.net

AN: This is part 2 of the story I made for Misskalloway, I decided to make 3 parts instead of 2, because my muse told me so! So this chapter is smutless I’m afraid! And as I said before this is majorly AU! To my excuse can I say I wrote this chapter while listening to 50 cent?

WIP: 2/3

Fandom: Advent children

Betaed by; none sadly.. live with it.

Word count: 2.456

Rating: R

Disclaimer: none of these characters are mine, sad but true.

Summary: Cloud and Reno breaks up in an argument, can that be fixed? And if so, how?

Warnings: disco dancing. Cheap tequila drinking.

Pairings: Cloud/Reno

Tick-tock, tick-tock
Tick-tock, tick-tock
Take a chance you stupid hoe

Gwen Stefani – What are you waiting for?

This shit is bananas! – B.A.N.A.N.A.S. II

Cloud didn’t even see where he was going, he just made his bike go faster and faster, until it reached the speed of his thoughts and breathing. His mind kept repeating the last ten minutes at the motel, and the words ‘over’ kept echoing in his brain. He clenched his jaw and pushed the bike to go faster, as if he went as fast as he possibly could, he would outrun his pain. Truth is he had not really wanted them to stop, no one had said the safe word, there hadn't been any.

Reno had been right, maybe he didn’t love anything but his sadness, he had lost himself somewhere and he didn’t know how to retrieve the missing spark. But Reno and he had been born out of the ashes of that, surely it had not just been bad. With a sigh he slowed the bike until it came to a halt, leaning in over the steer he rested his head on his arms, ‘go home to Tifa and the kids’ he heard Reno’s voice say. The redhead had not meant it, he had heard the scorn in his voice, and seen the hurt in his eyes. He was responsible for that, he had hurt Reno, it was not what he had wanted to do, he had never intended this to end in heartache and spiteful lies, but it had. Cloud felt tears sting in the corners of his eyes, and he tried his hardest not to cry, but that look Reno had given him before he had slammed the door resurfaced and he wept, he wept for all he had failed, and everyone he had let down. But Reno’s hurt eyes kept haunting him even as he wiped his tears in his sleeve and tried to compose himself. He had done this; he had ended this when he had not been able to give the only thing he had. Him! It had somehow went from a fun fuck to something else, when it had happened he didn’t really know, but they had both felt it, they would have to grow or leave, and they had chosen the latter, or really *he* had chosen.

Reno was right tho, he should return to Tifa, Marlena and Denzel, he had been gone for far too long as it was. But he knew that Tifa wanted her family bad, and he was not sure he would participate in that, he knew he should stop whining and just go home and play dad, at least he still had somewhere to go.

_______________

Reno was sitting on a dessert road; his fucking bike had broken down, how fantastic! He rolled his eyes, this was the most humiliating thing ever, not alone was he stranded in nowhere, he had to explain it to Rude, he was never going to hear the end of this!

He spotted Rude in the horizon and covered his eyes from the sun with his hand, sure enough he would recognize Rude’s bike anywhere. It was like one long dejavú as he watched Rude get off his bike with a sneaky grin, even his words he had known in advance. “Been to papa Peacocks’ huh?” Reno just sighed and nodded, there was no reason to lie; it was pretty obvious where he came from. “So who is she?” Rude said holding as he came to a stop in front of Reno. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you have been sneaking off”

“I just want to go home” Reno said with a very strained voice, bereft from the humour he normally would carry himself with.

Looking confused at first, then Rude started to laugh “she wouldn't give or something?”

“Or something” Reno growled “lets just go”

Rude just shook his head and walked after Rude to his bike, he could tell that Reno was angry, no.. More like sad, not that he had ever seen Reno sad. He decided that if his friend wanted to tell him about it, he would, eventually.

_________________________________________

Reno had been sulking for the entire week, but no mater how much Rude gently prodded, his friend wouldn't tell him, he had never been one for keeping silent about his conquests! This struck Rude as most odd, and made him sure there was more to this than he had first thought.

Not even his usual chatting mood as they went out for a drink, Rude had observed Reno who just looked like someone that was in a hurry with getting plastered, he downed drinks faster than Rude cared to count, and within a couple of hours he was looking vacantly off into the thin air, almost looking like he was asleep with his eyes open. “Are you alright?” Rude said.

“Yea” Reno slurred, answering in one-syllable words like he had for a week now, he didn’t feel like talking to Rude, and on the other hand he wanted to tell him everything. The door to the bar went up and Reno saw a flash of blond hair. His held his breath, feeling butterflies run amok in his stomach, like he had the million other times he had seen a flash of blond this last week. But as this blond made it through the dance floor he paled. This was no blonde, this was him! It was Cloud! Why had he come here? He didn’t drink! “Later” he said to Rude, as he slipped from the barstool and slipped off to the bathroom.

Cloud saw Rude at the bar and nodded in a measured greeting. Rude raised his drink at Cloud, who just looked at him. But just as Rude thought that Cloud would leave, he came over to the bar and rested against the seat that had held Reno for just moments ago. “Tequila” Cloud said to the barkeep. “And hold the extra” The barkeep nodded and left to get Cloud his drink.

Rude just looked at Cloud as he took the drink and turned towards him. “Where’s your sidekick?” he asked casually.

“Reno?” Rude asked, Cloud didn’t react and so Rude just nodded and said, “he just left”

“Ah” Cloud said with an undecipherable expression “I need work, if you hear of something let me know” he said before he raised his glass to toast with Rude.

“I will” Rude said toasting with the blond before they both downed their drinks.

Suddenly Reno came out from the bathroom, looking very determined. His eyes blazed of drunken pride and courage. Without a word he grabbed Clouds arm and pulled him away from a very stunned Rude, Cloud on the other hand didn’t look as surprised - he almost looked relieved. “No way” Rude said to himself and shook his head, before he suddenly began chuckling reaching the only conclusion he could.

_____________

Outside in the cold night, Reno dragged Cloud around a corner and slammed him up against the wall, and Cloud let him. “Cloud” he growled, apparently forgotten what he was about to say next he just ground his teeth.

“Reno” Cloud said smiling a little timid smile, “you’re drunk”

“So what?” Reno said as he let go of Cloud with a push, stepping back in the process. “You...you...” he hissed shaking his head “Who the fuck do you, think you are?”

Cloud sighed and sagged down against the wall, “I don’t know anymore Reno” he whispered, he looked up at the rather dissolved turk in front of him. Reno looked like he would either kiss him or kick his teeth in, could weren’t sure, as Reno’s face showed every single emotion. “I came here looking for you”

“You could have called” Reno spat “if you know how to work that damn phone of yours, that is!”

“Would you have picked up?” Cloud asked.

“Don’t know” Reno said more mellow, but still he looked as tight as a bowstring about to snap.

Cloud roamed his phone and pushed the dial button for Reno, seconds after Reno’s pants pocket started playing a very annoying popular tune. Reno looked at Cloud with a frown “you’re such a fucking smart ass” he sneered, but Cloud ignored him, and in the end Reno stuck his hand in his pocket and flipped up his phone, lifting the receiver to his ear. “Yea” he said in a highly annoyed tone.

“Reno?” Cloud said. “I don’t know where to begin, but... I am sorry”

“What the fuck is your problem?” Reno yelled, half in the phone half in Clouds face “I am not Tifa you stupid fuck, you cant just hand me some half hearted goddamned excuse” he shook his head slowly “no man, fuck you”

“I deserved that,” Cloud said, still not looking at Reno, but focusing on his own boot snout.

“And then some” Reno hissed.

“Yes” Cloud said darkly “You were right all along” he admitted.

“Cloud” Reno said, flipping his phone closed ending the phone call. “You have some heavy issues, dude”

Cloud turned off his phone and looked up at Reno “I know” he just stated. “But, what if I told you that you were right, I am very confused, I know what I’m not, but I don’t know what I am” Reno sat down on a crate that stood next to a dumpster, sitting with his knees together like a little boy, listening intensely. Cloud cleaned his throat as he tilted his head, looking up at Reno who’s boyish pose made him look like a frail child. “And what if I told you that I want to meet you in sleazy motels, pretending to be your lover”

“Cloud” Reno sighed, “we can’t do that anymore, man. Its over”

“Alright” Cloud said, rising to his feet, with a beaten expression to his face. “I don’t understand what it is you want from me? I give you all you asked for and still you act like a fucking prick!” Reno just looked at Cloud and frowned, Cloud walked over and grabbed the turk by the shoulders and shook him “I came here didn’t I?” he growled.

“I want you to come dance with me” Reno said with a mischievous grin. He realised he had Cloud by his knees, the man in front of him was all he wanted, he was just as corky as himself, made sure they would never get bored. Cloud made him feel weak, and he hated it, but just now it occurred to him that it made Cloud just as fragile and vulnerable as he, and it gave him a twisted sense of righteousness.

Cloud looked like he had been slapped “Da-ance?” he said with a high-pitched tone.

“Yes, dance” Reno said. He stood up and took Clouds hand “come on” he said with a casual drunken grin “I will even buy you a drink”.

“But..” Cloud protested weakly.

“You said you liked pretending to be my lover” Reno said, seeing Clouds silent surrender in his blue eyes, “does that only apply behind a closed door with the lights off?”

“No I guess not” Cloud mumbled, “I mean, no, definitely not” he sighed dramatically “Alright let us go dance”.

____________________

Cloud had actually blushed as they had entered the club again, he had seen Rude and looked away, not sure how to react, this was a whole new territory, but somehow he had to admit it felt nice to have Reno hold his hand in a public place, it felt oddly right and so very kinky. Reno ordered drinks and. Reno turned and handed Cloud the largest tequila he had ever seen. The music was so loud that Reno leaned in to speak directly in clouds ear “To pretending to pretend” he said loudly, Cloud nodded and Reno pulled back, he poured some soda in his drink and held a hand over the glass and slammed it hard down into the bar desk, and then quickly downed it. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he looked at Cloud who shook his head amused before he mirrored Reno and downed his drink.

Reno smiled and took Clouds hand again and dragged him off to the dance floor. He tossed his jacket in a corner and started to slowly dance, grinning as a fool as he lost himself to the rhythm, Cloud laughed and awkwardly started to dance as well, swaying his hips trying to find the rhythm, he quickly found Reno’s arms around his neck pressing against him, moving to the music and then he quickly joined the redheads moves. He danced! He actually freaking danced! It felt strange and liberating at the same time.

________________

Cloud left Reno at the dance floor and pressed through the crowd to the bar, to get them a drink. Reno had lost himself dancing and didn’t stop just because Cloud left, waiting for his drink Cloud watched his pretence lover dance, grinning at some girls that danced in a circle. He had to admit it looked hot, maybe that had been why he had held back before? The fear of loosing himself in it, in allowing himself to feel, he would also have something to loose. He felt someone tap his shoulder and he turned around to look into Rude’s amused eyes. He nearly didn’t recognize him without his shades.

Rude didn’t say anything at first, but then laid a hand on the money note that Cloud had laid on the bar, “those are on me” he said referring to the drinks as he pushed the note back to the blond.

Cloud didn’t quite know what to say, he just nodded and took the drinks as the bartender handed them over the desk. Opening his mouth to say something, he realised he didn’t know what to say so he just smiled a little boyish smile and turned and left, making his way back to Reno.

TBC