Author's Note: An update! I'm so sorry for the wait, I was extremely busy for awhile there. I have updated now! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it! It's helpful for me to know what people think of my new stories, so I know what you guys like, and don't like. Helps me to write things you will enjoy better in the future!
Elena woke up the next morning, right on time as usual. Enjoying the peaceful stillness of the morning, she took a warm shower, and enjoyed a steaming cup of coffee. In the midst of her peaceful, calm morning, an unwanted image of Reno popped into her head. She could just hear his teasing laughter. She glared into her coffee and her hand clenched just at the thought. Idiot bugs me even when he's not here! Suppressing it quickly, Elena focused deeply on the familiar scent of the coffee in her hand, the gentle morning light in her kitchen, the serene silence disturbed only by the clink of the mug, anything that didn't have red hair or love to tease her.
With a sigh, she got up, salvaging the scraps of her ruined morning. Washing the mug quickly, she pulled her jacket on and locked the door carefully behind her as she headed to work.
"What are you doing?" Elena's voice was strained, she tried not to yell at him before he'd even done anything. Reno grinned at her. He was standing in front of the main door to the building, just standing there. He'd been standing there for quite some time already.
"I'm waiting, 'Lena. Good morning to you too." He looked straight ahead, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He was clearly pleased with himself.
"For what?" She asked, even though her better judgment told her to ignore it and move on.
"To be twenty minutes late. I woke up on time this morning and couldn't get back to sleep, so I just came here to wait instead."
"Why don't you just go in now and be on time?" Elena felt a headache coming on. She kept mentally kicking herself for even carrying on this conversation. She was just giving in to his stupid little whims.
"I'm always twenty minutes late! I have a tight schedule to keep to," he said with mock seriousness. Elena opened her mouth to reply, but then thought twice. Snapping her mouth closed, she turned sharply on her heel and walked into the building herself, leaving Reno to wait out the remainder of his time by himself.
As Elena sat at her desk, sorting through what she would need to do that day, she couldn't help but continually glance at the clock, much to her annoyance. Precisely twenty minutes from when she had arrived, Reno swaggered in the door, grinning as usual. Rude didn't even look up but Elena watched the redhead all the way to his desk. He plopped down in his chair and winked at her. She glared and turned sharply back to her work.
After clicking around on his computer for a minute, Reno opened a desk drawer and pulled out a roll of duct-tape. Humming tunelessly, he got up and walked casually over to Tseng's closed office door. Without a moment's pause or hesitation he proceeded to quietly stick the tape on Tseng's door. It was in long strips, all along the edge of the door where it met the frame. Even Rude looked up to watch this. Reno took great care in making sure the door was sufficiently stuck to the frame.
He stood back and admired his work. Smiling, he sat at his desk again, putting the duct-tape back in the drawer and turned his attention to his computer.
"Reno," Elena folded her arms across her chest. The redhead didn't pay any attention to her, instead he leaned a little closer to the screen in front of him and frowned slightly. "Reno," Elena said again, louder this time. Reno looked up at her with faked surprise.
"Did you call me?"
"Yes, I did, Reno," Elena smiled, but it was completely lacking in any kind of kindness or mirth.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Reno replied with a small laugh, "I was so caught up in the work I was doing here that I didn't hear you at first." The big smile he gave her was so innocent looking, that it was incredibly fake. Elena narrowed her eyes.
"First of all, we all know you don't do any work. Second, why is Tseng's door duct-taped closed?"
"Well I think it's unfair of you to accuse me of not working, but I'll maturely overlook that misinformed comment of yours," Reno looked at her condescendingly.
"Oh please! As if anything you ever do could even be considered remotely mature!" Elena's temper was quickly flaring up, "And you didn't answer my question. Why have you duct-taped Tseng's door closed?"
"Oh I did do that, didn't I…" Reno turned to look at the door in question, "Hmm. I'm not really sure why, 'Lena." He spun his chair lazily to face her. "It just seemed like something that could be entertaining." The blonde Turk rolled her eyes and went back to her work, doing her best to not get dragged into a pointless argument. Reno observed this effort of hers with interest. Kicking his feet up on his desk, he picked up a pen and began to click it open and closed.
"Also I knew it would bother you," he said this softly, almost to himself. He flopped his head to the side to grin at her, awaiting her reaction.
"Why do you always do that?" Elena turned on him, her temper boiling over in an instant, "Why is it that you just have to do everything you can to make me mad? Is it really so important to you that my job be as annoying as possible?" The girl's angry rant was interrupted by a ripping sound from the taped door and muffled curses. This new development drew their attention. With a bit of jerking, Tseng ripped the door opened and barely glanced at the tape before turning instantly to Reno.
"I know it's hard for you, but try and act like an adult please," Tseng looked quite annoyed, "And Elena, I understand completely, but do try and control your anger."
"Yes, sir," Elena muttered, going back to her work rather red in the face. Reno simply grinned up at his boss happily.
"Clean up the tape," Tseng gave Reno a final glare before returning to his office.
Elena gripped her pen so hard her knuckles were turning white. Whatever he's doing, I refuse to give him any attention. Fixing her eyes on the paper in front of her, she saw out of the corner of her eye, Reno roll across the room in his chair again. He'd been doing it for fifteen minutes now without ceasing. Curiosity getting the better of her, Elena snapped her head up and watched him intently.
The redhead was riding in his chair back and forth in front of Tseng's open office door, throwing paper clips towards the other man's desk. He appeared to be attempting to time his throws perfectly so they went through the door and into the penholder on Tseng's desk. Elena could do nothing but watch. What could she say that would do any good anyhow?
"'Laney can I have some paper clips?" Reno had abandoned his chair in a search for more ammunition.
"No," Elena looked away and focused on her computer screen, trying to look busy in the hopes that he would just go away. I should know better by now. Sure enough Reno showed no signs of going anywhere.
"Please? I know you have some. You always have tons of paper clips in your drawer. Come on, 'Lena, it's not like you need them," he whined, "No one could ever use as many paper clips as you have in a whole lifetime of paperwork!"
"Fine, take them!" Elena jerked her drawer open and threw a small box of paper clips at him, "Just leave me in peace." Watching the redhead happily go back to his chair and carry on with his game, she was secretly glad it was Tseng's penholder he chose as a target, and not hers.
Tseng must be a saint…The man hadn't said a word, or moved from his desk. He continued doing his work as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Then again, Reno acting up is ordinary. Elena inwardly groaned in annoyance, and tried to ignore Reno. He eventually ran out of paper clips and, surprisingly, didn't ask for more. Instead he settled at his desk, kicked his feet up, laid his head back, and appeared to be taking a nap.
"What time is it?" Reno asked lazily. No one answered him. "'Laney, what time is it?"
"There's a clock on the wall practically just in front of you. Also on your computer which is directly in front of you."
"Yeah, but I'd have to open my eyes and move my head to see those. It's much easier for you to just tell me," he said happily. Sighing Elena glanced at the clock.
"It's two thirty."
"Thanks, 'Lena." She didn't reply.
All was silent for quite some time until Reno spoke again.
"'Laney, what time is it?"
Reno continued to ask about the time every thirty minutes until it was time to go. Tseng came out of his office, and knocked Reno's feet off his desk.
"Elena, Rude, you may go. Reno," the man looked at the redhead sternly, "You're going to stay and pick up the paper clips you carelessly tossed about. You can leave when they are all off the floor." With this the man left, followed closely by Elena and Rude.
"You brought it upon yourself," Rude muttered to Reno on his way out.
"Don't trip on the elevator," Reno called merrily after them all.
"I can't put up with his immaturity much longer," Tseng sounded tired and annoyed. The three were riding down the elevator together.
"He drives me insane! He spends the whole day goofing off," Elena ranted. Rude just quietly nodded in agreement. The shiny metal doors slid open silently when they reached the lobby. They all stepped out, but Elena quickly stepped back in.
"I forgot my purse," she explained, "I'll see you both tomorrow."
"See you in the morning," Tseng said. Rude just gave a small wave.
Elena walked back into their room, heading straight for her desk to grab the purse she'd left there. Reno looked up at her from the floor, where he was sitting, surrounded by the small pieces of metal. The constant teasing smile was gone, replaced with a rather dead expression.
"I thought you'd all left," he said, his voice devoid of the teasing tone.
"I forgot my purse," Elena said, slightly thrown off by the sudden change of attitude.
"Is that all? I thought maybe you just hadn't seen enough of me today," he managed a devilish grin, although it was far from the standards he usually kept up during the day.
"Shut up, Reno," she headed for the door, now with her purse on her shoulder. Her voice was less harsh than normal. She gave him one last curious look before leaving again. What's up with him? He acts so different when no one's around, or when he thinks no one's around. She thought of him picking up all those paper clips one by one all night and almost turned around to go help him, but a clock in the hall reminded her of his constant demands for the time. His mess, he can clean it up. Elena picked up her pace, feeling the slightest bit guilty for leaving him.
Author's Note: Hope this chapter was just as good/better than the last. I'm working hard! Please do drop a line and let me know what you think! xD I appreciate it guys! Watch for the next update!