This story will be made up of lots of small chapters, so I can update regularly despite being so busy! Hope you enjoy!
"…I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this."
"What? Stop being such a girl! You were born for this, just like I was born to please the ladies!"
"…"
"…what does that mean?"
"…nothing." Rude, despite himself, almost smiled. He stepped out of the van, Reno jumping out of the passenger seat beside him, not before giving him the most evil of eyes. A cigarette hung limply from his shorter friend's mouth. He puffed on it one final time, before dropping it to the floor and crushing it beneath his boot.
"Yeah, well, fuck you man. I don't see the ladies crawling all over you at the bars. So fuck you." Never had someone so offensive in his words been so charming (in his own special way, that was) as Reno, Rude noted. Despite their constant, often one sided bickering (Reno could have an argument with his shadow. And lose), Rude had always been grateful of the man's friendship throughout the years. Today though, he wish he hadn't have picked up his phone.
They were in Junon, still the biggest city on Gaia due to Midgar's incomplete nature and Edge still growing. They were not in the upper city though, as they had always tended to hang out, but were instead in the village below. It would be cruel to call them slums. Post-meteor, greater efforts had been made to accommodate the residents of the former fishing village, and Rude would even go as far as to say it looked almost quaint. Almost. Perhaps though he was being biased, because of the building they were standing in front of.
It was a pretty non-descript hunk of brick, much unadorned except for a sign above the doorway. The sign read 'Zangan's gym'.
"Well, what d'ya think? Huh?" Reno poked him with his nightstick, right in the ribs, forcing Rude to pay attention.
"It's…different."
"Hey," Reno sighed, "I thought you would have wanted somewhere a bit inconspicuous. Besides, this guy's meant to be the best."
"…like that bar was meant to be the best?"
"Can you leave it alone about the goddamned bar? I said I was sorry okay? How was I meant to know they had family killed by the Turks?"
"heh"
"…fuck you man. Come on, let's get inside before we're arrested for loitering," Reno grinned, and strode inside. Rude shook his head in slight despair, and followed him inside. It was a lot nice within than it was without. It was mainly one, large spacious room, which was divided into three parts: crash mats and punching bags to the far left, weights and machines on the near right, and in the centre was a sizeable ring. Behind the ring, Rude could see another doorway, which he guessed led to some locker rooms. It was early morning, but still the gym was not empty, with a couple of guys pushing hard on the weight machines. Still, Rude thought, this place probably didn't see a lot of custom, considering the average citizen of lower Junon.
"Hey Rude, over here!" Rude followed his partner's voice him standing next to an old man. This was not just any old man however. This was a man who gave off an aura, like he wasn't to be messed with. He stood fairly tall, despite a slightly crooked back and that he held a steel walking stick in his left hand. He was looking at Rude, seemingly curious. Rude looked straight back. "This here's Zangan himself!"
"Nice to meet you." Rude strolled forward to shake the man's hand. Zangan responded in kind, returning the handshake with surprising strength, which surprised Rude.
"Hey. Name's Zangan. Your friend here," he gestured towards Reno, who gave a mock bow behind Zangan's back, "said you wanted to learn how to be a professional boxer."
Rude just shrugged.