Rude was looking without any interest at his glass filled with bourbon. Reno, slighlty drunk was shifting his gaze from his partner to Elena and back. The blonde was sipping some fancy "lady drink", the name of which they wouldn't be able to pronounce even if they were sober. Between the three of them was a dead silence. Elena glanced at the redhead and had a feeling that something uncommon is about to happen. Reno was staring at Rude, a pissed-off expression on his face. Finally he slammed his fist on the table.
-Are you going to drink that or fuck with it?-he yelled out and everyone turned around from their tables to look at him. When people saw the uniforms they went back to whatever they were doing, in unision.
-Calm down-Rude spoke softly
-Ah, screw your calmness! Go and shove it, will ya?
Elena lowered her head. Going out to drink with those two always had to end up in a different manner, than it was planned. Mostly because of the full-time drunk, who started fights and encouraged brawls with sadistic passion. Elena thought that Reno was drinking just to have an excuse for Tseng when the boss recived another yet compalint regarding one of his own. The blonde sighed and ordered another drink.
-Maybe when I'll get drunk I won't notice that anymore-she thought
Rude looked at Reno
-All right tiger, you really want to start with me now? We came here to relax.
Elena smiled. Yup, they wanted to relax. Just yesterday they seen Cloud battle Sephiroth and they stood by the president when Geostigma was escaping his body She was fed up with all that. They barely made it out of the Northern Crater alive. Her and Tseng. Tseng. She didn't want to think about him as she realised that he's not the one for her, quite a while ago. She shook the sad thoughts from her head. She was here to forget about everyday crap and chill out. Who knows? Maybe she'll meet some nice guy and she''ll forget about the genral from Wutai? A loud request brought her back from her thoughts.
-Barteeeendeeeer! One more for baldy-locks over here- Reno was trying to be funny
-Call me that one more time and I will shove your EMR up your ass and it will come out from your mouth- Rude was still calm
-Yeeaah...I can't wait. But you know what they say...You need to earn such pleasures, nothing comes for free.
Elena started laughing.
-What are you so happy about? Go on, drink up, you'll be easier to charm.
Now her cheeks turned red as she blushed.
-Oh no, no, no- she shivered with the thought of her and Reno...She didn't even want to finish that one.
They were sitting in the most private section of the bar, on red leather couches. Rude and Reno on one side of the table, Elena on the other. She was closely observing both of them. She thought sadly that she must be really desparete because she started finally seeing them as men, not only as Turks. She blamed it on the booze. Once again she shook her head in dismay.
-Sweetie, what's up? Tell uncle Reno- he smiled with that shit-eating-grin- You don't like your drink?
-Stop treating me like a child Reno, please.
-You know I'm just kiddin' yo...Maaaan, stop acting like a queen.
- I won't. Just because I'm with you guys doesn't make me less of a women.
Rude glanced at her, almost smiling.
-Yeah, it's a shame that Tseng likes guys more, isn't it?- he was still looking at the liquid in his glass
Elena almost choked on her mojito.
-For your information I pulled his sorry ass out of the Temple of the Ancients just because that was my duty. On the other hand the bastard never even kept the promise of taking me out to dinner...
Reno started to laugh like he was crazy.
-Had to much already?-Elena looked at him with a smile
-You just don't have the luck. Look at us- he pointed his finger at himself, than at Rude- See, here? Those are men. And Tseng...Well, he's just a pussy.
-Don't speak of our boss in that way- Rude moved in his seat
-What? You're his next bitch?- Reno started laughing histerically. Rude smashed his elbow into his ribs.
-Hey! What was that for 'yo?
-For opening that dumbass mouth of yours when you're not supposed to.
-Geeez...k', I won't say a word from now on.
-Guys...we came here to relax- Elena cut into the conversation- So shut the fuck up and start relaxing or I will blow your heads off!
They both looked at Elena. Fury in her eyes, gun in her hand.
-Hey, hey, hey, sweetie, calm down. We're cool- he touched her hand wanting to settle her down
-Do not touch me with that filthy hands! Shut the hell up, both of you and leave me alone.
-All right, you wanna have some alone time? Than we're taking a few bottles and we're going to my apartment- he waived the waitress on and she brought two bottles of whiskey.
-Move it blondie, come on.
Elena looked suspiciously at Reno. Right now it didn't matter to her. Him or Rude, both of them, whatever, just drink some more and let that damn life go away. Tseng seemed distant now. Son of a bitch. She wanted to take revenge on him. Altough she didn't know what for. Well...maybe for the fact that he never loved her. He loved Rufus and other men. When she thought about that something in her stomach turned and she felt as she was about to vomit. She took a few breaths and it stopped. It was just a memory.
They took their belongings and went through the slums up to an old building. Along the way, unnoticably to Elena, Reno winked at Rude, who made up an excuse of filing some paperwork tomorrow and left. They were alone now.
Elena never saw any of the co-workers apartments. Now she was actually glad she didn't. She was looking around. Ashtrays overflowing with cigarette butts, bottles by the bed, a pile of clothes in the living room. She smiled to herself. It did not matter to her as far as there was alcohol running in her vains.
-Reno, pour one more glass for me- she felt tears in her eyes and pushed them away as if she wanted to cover herself up
-I know why you came here, sweetie- Reno smiled and touched her arm
-Why?- she was surprised
-To forget. You know what's in store for tomorrow, right?
-A hangover?- she still wasn't sure what to say
-Regret. I don't want to harm you but I see that you want it yourself. You know that I'm not into relationships, right?
Elena shrugged.
-I don't care. I don't give a shit.
Reno poured some more alcohol into his own glass.
-Sweetie, I know you want to forget. You just have to tell me if you're sure that I'm the right person to make you forget.
-I don't care-she repeated herself undoing the buttons of her suit nervously- I want to feel something, anything, even for a moment.
-I would say that you chose right. But...I just feel sorry for you now.
-Shut up!
-If you say so...
-Here, come on, take it, do whatever you want- she unbuttoned her shirt- Take it. I want to feel warm again, I want to be loved, even if it's just for a few seconds- she started to cry-What are you staring at? Come here, that's yours!
-Sorry, sweetie. Not this time- he gave her another glass of liquor- You can sleep here, next to me, you're drunk. You're one of us. I can't do this to you. Come here, give me a hug.
Elena walked up to him, her clothes a mess, her face red from crying.
-There, there Elena, calm down. It's gonna be ok. Drink this and go to sleep. I promise I'll be here all night, watching over you. All right?
Elena nodded her head and embraced her friend.
-Reno?
-Yup?
-Help me, please.
-Tomorrow, ok? I promise I'll help you. Now come on, just hold on tightly to me, we're going to sleep. Calm down, please, stop crying.
Elena realized that nobody in her life was ever so nice to her, nobody cared to that extent.
-You promise that you'll be next to me all night? Please.
-I promise sweetie. Now come on- he switched the lamp off- Go to sleep. Everything is going to be all right in the morning, you'll see. Come on, give me your hand. Goodnight.
Elena fell asleep. Reno looked at the fragile person next to him and smiled at her. He won't let her down. He promised himself, he won't let her down.