That just meant that he was going to have to squeeze her more tightly, and make a pathetic, kind of sniffling attempt at choking back the sobs that were breaking through, and when the hell had he gotten so damn soft, anyhow? He was a Tu--

He was.

He...

"S'good you didn't. Means you're safe. And... And. S'just... S'you and... Yeah."

He hoped, hoped, hoped that she understood what he was trying to get at, this time. Wasn't about Rufus. Wasn't. Reno didn't give a shit about Rufus. Didn't have to, anymore. Man was standing, man was healthy, if Reno could be done with it, he would be.

Rikku meant so, so much more than that.