Disclaimer: See part one.
A/N: I do love me some WTFery. XD
WARNING: contains much WTFery, Reno moments, Tseng smiling, mature language, and yaoi references.
Picturesque: Part III
Damn, I'm glad it's over for today! Reno thought fervently. He practically waltzed into ShinRa Headquarters, so thrilled was the redhead that his shift was over.
"Reno."
It was only one word. One name. But it was his name. And it was coming in a somewhat irked tone from a certain Wutaian TURK's lips.
"Ah..." Reno turned around, one hand rubbing the back of his head as he grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, Boss?" What did I do this time, yo?
Tseng's eyes narrowed slightly. That stance...he doesn't remember why he's in trouble? I'll have to fix that.
What he said was, "My office. Now."
When the raven-haired man simply turned and walked to his office, Reno knew he was in for it. Shit, yo! How'd I piss off Boss-man this time? he asked himself.
Unfortunately, he couldn't answer his own question. So, slouching a little more dejectedly, Reno paced into his boss' office after Tseng.
Clearing his throat-more to ensure Reno's attention than anything else-the Wutaian spoke. "Reno, do you recall what you did last night?"
A puzzled frown crossed the redhead's face. He thought for a moment. "Uhh..."
Tseng watched, smug satisfaction hidden behind somber black eyes, as Reno paled upon remembering. "That's right. You invaded my residence, violated the respect that all TURKs should have for their comrades, and left my door unlocked when you left."*
Well, hell, thought Reno. I ain't so sure I can get myself outta trouble today, yo...
While he'd never admit it, Tseng liked that Reno had a tendency of letting his every emotion cross his face when he was distracted. It was surprisingly endearing, especially from a man who could kill and butcher without batting an eyelash.
But as Tseng mused silently to himself, Reno focused, sharp eyes noting every slightest nuance. He saw it all, and his mind-that of a detail-oriented TURK field operative-cataloged and comprehended the view in its entirety.
He...likes me?
Tseng, starting ever so slightly as he pulled out of his reverie, blinked at the expression on Reno's face. It's a shame I don't tend to carry cameras around with me. But, as the redhead was lost in his own thoughts at the moment, the Wutaian did the next best thing.
Reno jerked at the sound of a shutter clicking. A camera?
The only things in the room were him and Tseng, who was-putting away his cell phone. Yo, he took a picture of me?
A picture like that, with Reno staring, stupefied, at the camera, could probably have been used for blackmail or extortion, but Tseng wasn't petty. Strict, certainly-no one made it anywhere in the TURKs without being strict about something, even if it was just fighting skills-but not a soul alive or dead had ever accused Tseng of being petty.**
Meanwhile, Reno had fallen back into a state of revelation. He likes me. He took a picture of me. A nagging thought intruded. He was hiding something. He was hiding-this? Was he hiding the fact that he likes me? Did Rude know? Does Elena? TURKlet has a crush on Boss-man. Boss liking me instead of her, that could cause problems.
His thoughts were well prepared to ramble on, but Tseng brought him back to the present with a pointed clearing of his throat. "Reno, what were you thinking?" The Wutaian meant when the redhead had ransacked his house, but Reno had another of his moments.
Oh, shit, yo! Am I supposed to tell him I know he likes me? "Uh..."
Tseng raised one ebony eyebrow, as if to chivvy his underling's words from the typically babbling mouth. "While I admit to having all night, you will find me displeased if you persist in not answering."
Reno winced. "Ah, okay... It's just-you like me?"
Both TURKs froze, the redhead wearing a confounded expression and the Wutaian blankly disbelieving. For that one moment, neither moved.
Finally, Tseng managed to ask, "What?" in a somewhat strangled tone.
"Well, it's just-you took a picture of me with your phone." A sudden thought hit him, and suddenly his tongue was on a roll. "And there were only pics of comrades at your house, but you had that one other pic of us the day I became a full-fledged TURK."
It occurred to Tseng that Reno had temporarily lost his slum-beginnings accent due to excessive astonishment. He waited with a facade of implacable patience to see if Reno was going to find anything else to ambush him with.
"You like me, yo," stated the redhead, customary smirk flitting around the corners of his mouth. Having had his moment of shock, Reno was bouncing back the same way he did with every major change: he dove in headfirst and went searching for something chaotic.
Tseng blinked as Reno sauntered forward and pressed their lips together. His cockiness is back, the Wutaian thought ruefully to himself.
"So," began the redhead, eyes twinkling with mischief as he brought his leader's mind back to the present. "Does Elena know yet, yo?"
"I beg your pardon?" Tseng was nothing if not confused.
"Told her ya like me yet? I mean-yo, didn't ya know Rude's noticed?"
Leviathan, thought Tseng. I know they're TURKs, same as I am, but... Since when have they been this observant? Calmly, he said, "Has Rude told you he noticed?"
"Nah, he deliberately didn't tell me," came Reno's response. "But he avoided the question, yo!"
Tseng sighed. Competent people can be a real pain in my ass.
As they walked out of the building, done for the night, the TURK duo passed Rufus ShinRa. For once, it wasn't the redhead who made the comment and egged on the laughter.
"Quite an interesting picture that showed up on my monitor this evening, Tseng."
"Sir?"
"You had a lovely view in your office," drawled the blond man before walking away.
Reno choked and fell to the floor, inadvertently granting another gorgeous sight as he held his sides and conceded the fight, succumbing to absolute hilarity.
The only thought the Wutaian had as the elevator resumed its descent was, I can live with Rude and Rufus knowing. But, Leviathan, leave Elena unaware! If she finds out...
Not even Tseng could hide a smile at the mental image of Elena confronting Reno. That was a picture worth a thousand words-in this case, the words that she'd have to say to the redhead.
*To Reno, it sounded like Tseng was more displeased with the fact his door had been left unlocked than because a TURK had done one of the things a TURK was trained to do (i. e.- snoop).
**Okay, Reno had called Tseng petty one time, but that had been an exaggeration and caused by Reno having a massively horrendous week in a month of bad days.
