[thread; closed]

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Characters: Rude, Reno and Tseng (Elena if she's in Treno?)
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Rude comes home and gets debriefed on the situation
Location: Treno
Date: March 1804
Warnings: Ffff. Reno.


Okay, so maybe the grin hadn't gone away and Reno's face was starting to hurt, but Rude was back and even though it wasn't home, at least they were all together again. Things could go back to almost normal, though the issues of how close he and Rude would be could be explored later. Much later. It was fine with Reno if they stayed as nothing more than friends because at least he knew what would happen if they became more. Rude was right the last time he was here. If they didn't do it then, they'd always wonder and, yeah, he would've always wondered. But now he knew. Even if Rude didn't remember, he knew what it was like and that was all that really mattered. He was more than comfortable with just going with whatever flow they would follow.

Hands shoved deep in the pockets of the baggy black pants he'd bought in Dollet, Reno had a white shirt on and a black coat because, even if it was March, it was still damn cold in Treno thanks to it never seeing sunlight.

Yawning, Reno shivered a little as a breeze blew by, a smirk on his face as he headed into the hangar, his weirdly bright blue eyes searching the crowds for a certain over-sized bear of a man. There were still airships waiting to come in though, so maybe he was on one of those.

Comments

[cyke.livejournal.com]

Rude wasn't hard to spot among the midget-like natives of Gaia. No offense, but the people in Final Fantasy IX have always reminded me of little people, rofl. In all seriousness though, the bald Turk stood out like a sore thumb in his pristine business suit, especially when everyone else was dressed like something out of the seventeenth century. Reno had been right about the time period, that was for sure.

Spotting Reno wasn't any more difficult, either. That head of crimson acted as a beacon that stood out to Rude even from behind the usual shades he wore. The silent figure didn't hesitate to make a beeline toward his partner. Hopefully Reno would be able to shed a bit more light on this whole situation.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Finally catching sight of Rude, a massive grin broke his smile and Reno darted at him, tempted to pounce on his partner and just attach himself to the bigger man if only just to irritate him. "Heeeeey, Rude! How was the flight?" His grin remained and Reno could've been bouncing on his feet if he wasn't too cold to bounce around. He didn't take well to weather extremes, and pretty much everyone heard about it when he was uncomfortable with the temperature.

"Tseng's back at base, and Elena's about somewhere. You had a chance to talk to either of them?" He kept his hands shoved in his pockets as he walked, shuddering and bundling down into his unzipped coat, deciding his hands were more important so he'd keep them warm in his pockets and suffer his coat being open.

[cyke.livejournal.com]

"Spoke with Tseng," Rude offered in response, his expression no less srsbzns than usual. He was glad to see Reno, sure, but that fact was sort of trumped by the fact that he was stuck in medieval times without any real explanation to work off of just yet. There would be time enough for semi-emoting later.

"He wants us to meet up with him." No doubt the Sweet Child Antique Shop was this base that Reno mentioned. Rude wasn't sure how he felt about the fact that the others had been here long enough to establish a base of operations, but then the Turks were efficient if nothing else. He'd worry after he'd been filled in to the finer details of their predicament.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Reno nodded, jingling the change in one of his pockets and thumbing his house and car keys in his other pocket. "Yeah, back at base. It's pretty nice there, since we got the blood off the walls and cleaned out the shit the previous owners uh... left behind." A grin came and Reno shrugged a little. It was a nice place but it didn't meant the level of Healin Lodge and definitely not the lounge at ShinRa HQ.

Reno was used to Rude's serious face and lack of verbal responses, so he simply kept talking. "So this place, Gaia, it's not a great place but it's just as screwed up as home, so there ain't nothing we can really complain about. They've got good beer, good smokes and we're all here. If Elena ever gets her ass back to Treno." He'd give her a mouthful for disobeying a direct order of his.

[cyke.livejournal.com]

Rude listened, not surprisingly, without giving much in the way of reaction as Reno broke it down. It sounded pretty straightforward. The fact that there was no rhyme or reason for their ending up here was unsettling, sure, but it could have been a lot worse. At least it wasn't just him.

"Strife contacted me, too," he revealed. He'd keep quiet about Tifa for now, if only to avoid any ribbing from his red-haired companion. "I'm guessing his group doesn't have any answers either." Ah well. For now, they'd head back to base, as Reno put it. Rude would figure things out for himself from there. So long as Tseng and the President were around, though, he wouldn't worry.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Of course, it had came close to Reno being the Acting Director again which was never pleasant. He could handle the small stuff, but actually having to plan and give orders... well, that was where he failed. Reno's plan was always going to be 'go with the flow' and his orders usually ended up being 'do what feels right'.

He wasn't incompetant, not by any means, but he wasn't a sit-down-and-make-a-plan sort of person. That was Tseng's job, and Rude's at times. He just added his magic touch every now and then. "Cloud, huh? Yeah, well... AVALANCHE haven't ever really been the quickest to figure things out. Especially not Cloud."

[cyke.livejournal.com]

That last comment might have gotten the faintest of chuckles from the larger man, but anyone other than Reno would be hard-pressed to notice as much. If Rude had to rely on Cloud and the others, he probably wouldn't have been as comfortable with this whole scenario as he was now.

"This place almost reminds me of Midgar." He wasn't usually one to divulge information of his own accord, but the fact that Treno was the closest thing to Midgar in Gaia apart from Midgar itself was definitely a welcome coincidence. Rude was really wondering how long it'd take them to get back to this base, though. He hadn't planned for the cold.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Rude was in luck. It was a matter of seconds before Reno pushed open the door to the antique shop and waved lazily at the woman behind the counter. "This here's Rude. If he wants in, he gets in, got it? He don't talk much so don't waste your breath." He wasn't trying to be mean but this woman had an attitude and he didn't like her much at all.

Yawning as he headed through a back exit, making sure Rude kept up, Reno led him along a hallway and into the base, which was a lot better than it had been when he first saw it. It was cleaner, and the couches had been stuffed a little more. It wasn't luxury, but it wasn't hell. "Guess we wait for Tseng," he murmured, sitting himself on one of the couches and kicking his feet up on the coffee table, after removing his coat.

[cyke.livejournal.com]

Rude stood just inside the door frame, scanning the interior of this "base" with the usual stoic scrutiny. It was definitely not what he had been expecting, but then they'd seen worse over the years. Somehow he couldn't see the President settling in somewhere like this. More likely than not, it was meant to serve as a temporary base of operations at the most.

After Reno planted himself on one of the sofas and proceeded to make himself comfortable, Rude followed suit, slowly stepping toward that same couch, and seating himself at the opposite end. Apparently this was what happened when you started from the ground up.

"Cozy," he remarked simply.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Reno snorted and kicked off his boots before swinging his feet around to flop them on Rude's lap, crossing his arms under his head. "Yeah, it's not exactly pretty and the President isn't gonna like it one bit, but we gotta make do until things are better for us." Especially with each other vanishing at random times and coming back with no memories or, in Tseng's case, far too many wounds than necessary.

"You'll get used to it. It's better we got our own place than doing any work at the inn. Oh, and you're roomin' with me. Elena gets her own room and I figure Tseng'll room with the President, if he moves in." Reno had a feeling that the situation wouldn't really bother Rude, but it was right to at least let him know.

[cyke.livejournal.com]

It took him a moment of consideration before he decided against putting up a fight, and instead grabbed one of Reno's feet now resting against his lap. Rather than shoving it off though (or, you know, breaking it outright), Rude used his gloved hands to begin massaging it instead. Reno'd owe him later, of course.

Rude wasn't surprised in the least by the sleeping arrangement. It made sense that Elena would be rooming alone, and that Tseng would likely stick with Rufus. Rude had shared a hotel room with Reno enough times over the course of their partnership to be fine with the two of them rooming together.

"Somehow I don't see the President putting up with this place for too long." Which meant that they'd likely have to bust their asses to secure someplace a little more ... well, not the back room of some antique shop.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Reno tensed up just slightly when his foot was grabbed because, well, Rude was as much a loose cannon as he was really, but Reno was more obvious about it. However, when his fingers started pressing at pressure points and massaging the aches away, Reno practically melted into the couch with a sound that was quite obviously a moan.

Rude was always good with his hands, and this was just one thing on the long list that was just a little bit more personal than professional. Purring almost as obviously as the cat that currently occupied a chair, hidden under a pillow, he smiled lazily at his partner. "Rich boys can't put up with livin' rough. We'll find a better place, once we've got the footing to do it."

Stretching just a little, Reno languidly slid his goggles off as he ran his fingers through red hair, tossing them on the coffee table. "You're way too good with those hands, partner."

[cyke.livejournal.com]

"I know." Any modesty that Rude might have shown with anyone else didn't typically apply when it was just him and Reno. A rare smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he continued with the impromptu massage, eventually abandoning the foot in question so that he could focus in on its counterpart.

"Don't think I'll forget either," he added, if only to remind Reno that this was a mutual arrangement. The next time Rude decked someone across the jaw, a hand massage would be nice. It helped that they took turns, because there was probably no way either of them would benefit from the deal otherwise.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Wiggling the foot that had been abandoned to get a little bit of the tingly feeling out of it, Reno snickered, letting out another of those noises when Rude took hold of the other one. "Yeah, yeah. I'll pay you back within reason. Should probably show you where our room is too..." When he wasn't busy having his foot rubbed, obviously. This was a rare opportunity he didn't plan on passing up.

He wasn't going to mention the sleeping arrangements until he showed Rude the room because, well, it might cause issues. Stretching his arms up before lazily dropping one over his stomach, the other going behind his head again, Reno was tempted to close his eyes because at least with Rude here, if he fell asleep, he'd actually feel safe.

[cyke.livejournal.com]

It was pretty obvious--at least to Rude--that Reno hadn't put in that rest like he said he would. The slight smirk faded shortly after this realization, though Rude didn't let up his makeshift foot rub.

"Tseng might be a while--you should rest." He wasn't going to argue if Reno refused. He'd just punch him out. Reno never seemed to look after himself the way that he should. It was probably one of the reasons he was assigned a partner to begin with. Rude was just glad that he could usually talk reason to him more often than not.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Wrinkling his nose at Rude's suggestion of sleep, Reno sighed and pulled his feet away, swinging them down to the floor as he sat up. "C'mon, big guy. Time you saw your new room." He'd kept all of Rude's stuff and just moved it all in here. At least their rooms were better than the ones at the inn and they were staying there for free.

Surprisingly enough, Reno had cleaned his and Rude's room thoroughly because, well, he didn't plan on catching anything from the previous residents.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, the smaller Turk led his partner to their room, acting as nonchalant as possible about the most obvious thing about their room. There was only one bed. A very damn large bed, but only one. The issue had been that there were only three rooms that could've been bedrooms. One single, one with two beds and this one. Clearly he and Rude were assumed to be sharing everything as usual.

[cyke.livejournal.com]

It figured that Reno would be against any sort of rational suggestion. Rude just hoped that the younger man took up his advice before too long. The last thing he needed was an exhausted partner to look out for--Reno was reckless enough as it was on his own, without the sleep deprivation to worry about.

Upon arriving at their shared room, Rude gave no indication of ... well, anything really. He stepped inside, glancing from the bed to the far wall, before eventually turning to set his gaze back on Reno. They'd shared rooms before, so it wasn't a huge issue.

"You can have one of the pillows," he started, completely straight-faced. "Might get uncomfortable down on the floor." It was a joke, of course, but Reno didn't have to know that.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

Dark brown brows creased and Reno looked at Rude with an expression that might have matched one of a kicked puppy. "That bed's huge, you can't make me sleep on the floor!"

Huffing at his partner, the redhead seated himself at the table in their room, picking up a cup of coffee that had certainly gone cold by now, sipping the dark liquid as if it was still worth drinking. He had almost expected this. Things weren't like they were between them when Rude had left, so there wasn't the same comfortable feeling about sharing a bed.

A very bright ginger feline pushed its way between Rude's legs and prowled into the room, springing onto Reno's lap and then further onto the table. Sighing at the kitty, Reno nuzzled the animal once a fuzzy face was pushed at his own.

[cyke.livejournal.com]

Even Rude had trouble maintaining a straight face with the way Reno took the bait. He pulled it off, of course, because he's Rude. Why not let the red head squirm a little longer, right? Reno should be able to discern for himself that Rude wasn't serious after the cat in question climbed up into his lap. The corner of Rude's mouth curled up into the slightest of smirks as he looked over the unlikely duo.

"Friend of yours?"

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

"Jackass," he muttered under his breath once he saw that smirk, scooping Puss from the table and cuddling him, bending one knee up to keep himself balanced on the chair. "He's my new partner, since you're a jerk." He didn't mean that. He never meant it when it was in casual conversation like this. Reno only ever meant insults to Rude when they were angry at each other. Not that he was going to tell him about their last argument.

That had caused far too many trust issues between them both and nothing had been the same after it.

Holding the cat out at Rude, Reno grinned. "You have to get used to him. He's sticking around since we found him-- I mean... since I found him in that alleyway..." Yeah, smart, Reno. Tell Rude you found him after being pinned against a wall, after a makeout session. Genius.

[cyke.livejournal.com]

New pet, huh? Could have been worse--Reno could have adopted a child and signed Rude up as a surrogate father. Rude took the cat, giving it a once over as he held it at a distance, before deciding that it past the test, and stroking it behind the ears as he held it closer.

"Doesn't look like he can put up much of a fight." Yeah, he'd caught on to the whole back-peddling, but he wouldn't push the issue. It was obvious that Reno wasn't giving him the whole story for whatever reason. It wasn't like him to hold back, so whatever it was, Rude figured he'd give him space.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

"Ha! That bastard has given me more scars since I got him than I've had my entire life." Reno pushed himself from the chair, glad that Rude was cool with the cat being around, and flopped himself onto the bed, rolling over to the side furthest away from the door. Rummaging under the pillow, Reno pulled out a book. Yes, a book. He can read, contrary to popular belief.

Flipping it open, at the page he'd left off at, Reno yawned a little. "Make yourself at home, partner. Puss ain't going nowhere and Tseng is probably out doing stuff for the President."

[cyke.livejournal.com]

"You should be sleeping." Direct? Rude? Pfft. You had to be when dealing with Reno more often than not. If left to his own devices, Reno would probably sooner collapse for not taking care of himself. Rude noticed his exhausted over the phone. Like it or not, Reno was going to get some sleep.

"Don't make me sic the cat on you," he added, seating himself at the edge of the bed, and facing the feline in question toward Reno as if to warn him that he meant business. In all seriousness, though, he'd snatch the book away if he had to. Reno should have known that he really didn't have a choice in the matter when Rude got this adamant about something.

[flyboy-red.livejournal.com]

"I'm not tired, I just ache a lot." Reno frowned at Rude for using the cat as a weapon because, yeah, Puss was a nasty kitty when he wanted to be. "If I sleep, I just get stiff and it hurts more then." It was probably his own fault for exherting way too much effort in destroying everything he could destroy in his and Rude's old room at the inn. Even the split on his lip wasn't fully healed yet, but Reno hadn't made a point of showing it to Rude.

He wasn't going to just give in, even if he knew he didn't have a choice when Rude got so serious about things. Sure, Rude was serious most of the time anyway, but there were different levels to his seriousness and linefacing. Reno, oddly enough, was probably the only person to read him well enough.