One of the lines makes me think of 'Rest in Pieces.' It doesn't go very well with most of the piece though, so don't listen to it. It goes under the 'soundtrack' column though, haha.

For that matter, so does 'Disappear' (Hoobastank). If you find anything you think fits, do tell me. Maybe I'll get inspired for future chapters listening to it.

Part of this one was mood inspired by 'I Guess This is Love' by Rachel Farris.

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Explain? Fucking explain? How was he supposed to explain! After walking in on that they wanted him to fucking explain why his day sucked so damn hard? His chin feel against his chest and he shuddered weakly, fingers digging into his flesh as they curled around his arms.

He was not going to cry. He was not going to damn cry and- too late. His body could just go to hell for all it did for him.

His voice was slightly sticky as he started talking, a telltale sign of his body's reaction, one he hardly needed to be reminded of. His eyes and cheeks were burning, and the sensation simply angered him. "Do I really have to explain, sir?" he asked slowly, muscles wound like a piano's cords.

"You have to explain," Rufus confirmed firmly, pretty mouth in a straight line. Reno almost laughed at the dangerous thought, but knew that if he had, he would have started sobbing.

"It's been a damn bad day. And when I thought it was looking up, it crasheedthrough the ground and straight to the center of the earth. Okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? Can I go now?"

That damn look passed between them and he could practically feel his day rotting in the lifestream. "No."

His teeth clenched and he sat there for a few seconds, too wired to think. He stood up suddenly, knocking the chair over, slamming his hands down on the expansive desk before him. "I don't want to fucking talk about it! Okay? Why don't you just leave me alone to suffer in fucking peace, asshole? With all due respect, sir."

Tseng was suddenly beside him. He righted the chair before shoving Reno down into it, turning it so that it faced him. His hands were on either armrest, locking the poor redhead in. There was something so cold in his eyes, and Reno felt his anger fade away as his head sunk back down, messy bangs sticking to his wet face. He'd disappointed Tseng, and that was the last thing he ever wanted to do.

"These bad days of yours are not an uncommon occurrence, Reno." Aquamarine flickered up to the sharp, exotic features of the Wutaian face, confusion and weariness settling into their depths. He was somewhat disappointed in the failings of his poker face, to be frank. "And don't be so shocked we noticed," he added sharply, deepening Reno's frown. Since when did the man understand him so fully?

That bit of information would have made him feel better a few minutes ago.

…A bit before he'd damn had to see them so fucking perfectly together…

Tseng hit his shoulder lightly and Reno looked back at him again, feeling tired and weak.

"Obviously there's a continuing issue causing turbulence in your life," Rufus slid in, tone a sort of twisted honey. "Hardly conducive to your job, as it were. I would hate to die for it." Tseng, annoyed and faintly angry at the insensitive words, glanced at the blonde sharply and Rufus rolled his eyes at his lover's expression. Reno would have tried slipping away while his captor was distracted, but he couldn't move right now.

His breathing was shallow, limbs heavy, and he just didn't want to think anymore.

Tseng straightened out, pursing his lips, and slid his fingers across the top of his head, righting some loose strands. "Reno…"

"You're hurting me," he answered softly, hands limp in his lap.

He didn't look startled- Tseng never look startled. Neither did Rufus. That was one of the 'Reno versus Tseng and Rufus' points.

Rufus never fidgeted with his hair. That was one of the 'Rufus versus Reno and Tseng' points.

Tseng never took no for an answer. That was something they all had in common. "I'm not even touching you," he hissed, almond eyes narrowing at the redhead.

Reno lifted his lips in a defensive snarl. He felt backed into a corner, and the only way to get away was to lash out- every animal knew that somewhere deep inside. His fingers were white around the armrests, muscles quivering under the strain. Rufus wondered for a split second if the Turk would break his chair. His head snapped up and he was glaring at Tseng with a new fire. "I said you're fucking hurting me!"

"Don't scream at me," his boss answered coolly, apparently complete unfazed and apathetic. That complete lack of feeling was what made Reno feel truly cold. Tseng and Rufus shared so much and he got… he got… this.

He was up and off in a heartbeat, practically tearing the door open. He didn't wait for the elevator, skidding down the emergency stairs at a neck-breaking speed.

Tseng and Rufus were still watching long after he had disappeared.

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If there was one thing Reno didn't want to do right now, it was admit the world was any bigger than his bedroom.

The air was stale, the blinds closed tightly. The only signs that it was still midday were the strips of light across his floor from where the blind couldn't quite shut it out. The red haired Turk was bundled tightly in the covers, breathing heavily. He had to, since the air beneath his thick comforter was hot and stifled.

If there was one thing Reno didn't like, it was the creak of his door as it was opened slowly. He purposefully let those hinges rust so that he, a light sleeper, would wake if anyone tried to assassinate him.

Or try to talk to him, which, as far as he was aware at this point, was just as fucking bad.

He sat up, red-rimmed eyes glaring at his partner. Rude raised an eyebrow at him, settling in the corner of the room with his hands clasped before him.

"Stop looking like a damn bodyguard all the time," Reno grumbled, glancing away, to which Rude smirked before he went straight to the point.

"What happened in that office?"

He threw his hand up in frustration, falling back against his mattress. "Why the fuck is it that I can never tell when anyone's having problems, but when I have some everyone notices?"

"You're not detail oriented?"

Reno pushed up on his elbows gave the bald man a pointed look and Rude smiled faintly. He stepped forward, seating himself on the bed and staring fixedly at the covered window. Reno sighed and sat up, swinging his feet over the mattress, settling down with his back to his partner. He scratched his head, yawning listlessly.

"Reno."

"Just nothing I needed to see, yo."

"You make it sound as though they were screwing on the floor," the wider, stronger turn murmured, voice gravelly and faintly amused.

"I may as well have," he answered with a quiet moan, and it told Rude everything he needed to know.

"I was wondering who you were mooning over. Which is it?"

Reno glanced at him sharply out of the corner of his eye before he sunk against the man's strong back, heaving a sigh.

"Oh."

"What do you mean, 'oh'?" he grumbled childishly, vexed.

"Both of them. That really sucks."

He would've been amused as to how Rude seemed to have picked up his language, but was busy being frustrated by the situation.

"Yeah. Of course it sucks, yo!"

Reno grunted and stood, patting the boy's shoulder before showing himself out. "I'll tell them your sick, but don't expect them to believe me."

"As though they would," he answered with a moan, shaking his head.