"They're gonna clean up your looks

With all the lies in the books

To make a citizen out of you

Because they sleep with a gun

And keep an eye on you, son

So they can watch all the things you do."

Teenagers, My Chemical Romance

sk

"Hey babe. Remember me? Reno, of the Turks, here at your service. I kill people for a living. I'll kill people for you."

A cocky smirk. Glittery eyes. Sparkly skin.

The alcohol was talking for him; and how Reno loved the buzz, seeing the world in such a pretty state.

What Reno didn't love, was the punch that came out of nowhere, aiming straight for his consciousness and crackling like lightning.

sk

"You know something? You suck at pick up lines! I mean what kind of… I can't believe you said that to her! It's plain idiocy." Elena sighs, frustrated, dabbing ice on his eye, now sporting a very, very mean black bruise. "Plus, Lockheart does know who you are. I think constant attempts of trying to botch up their plans would make her remember us. And put a bad impression on her. Just what exactly were you thinking?"

"Wasn't." Grumpily, Reno pouts, his voice mumbling.

"Yeah. I could see that. Which was why I was apologizing to her seconds afterward you found solace in the darkness; so long as you don't hit on her while wasted—"

"—on love. Remember, 'Laney, I'm in love with her." His face positively glows like moonbeams while his thoughts remain on Tifa.

"So you've said. Fine, while you were wasted on love," Elena relents, but doesn't bother to hide her disdain, "and alcohol. You remember that, right? Since it used to be your best friend, in those ole days when Rude and I weren't. We, who are now, so very sadly, are dragged into your schemes."

"And what are you saying?" Fixing his green eyes on her, she looks away, putting more pressure than there should have been. "Ow!"

"I'm just saying that, perhaps," Elena takes deep and slow breaths, instantly lessening her strength back into light feathers. "You should be more considerate." A pause. "Of us." And if he knows what the word actually means, then he'll get a brownie point.

"Since when have I asked you to do something you don't want to do?" And his voice has reverted into his saccharine flavoured poison, feigning innocence that has never been there because Reno is a Spawn Of Evil.

Her eyes narrow in response, slightly shaking her head. She is not falling for that. "There are too many times to write them down."

The red-haired Turk petulantly ignores her, sniffing haughtily, slender face looking up like an aristocrat.

A ruffled aristocrat that is clearly unhappy with how the situation has panned out but still. Reno is a fan of melodrama.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He mutters, voice low.

Sure you don't. Elena thinks viciously, but keeps her mouth shut. It doesn't mean that she won't frown.

sk

They find Rude at the sweet shop.

Apparently he's been debating between a gobstopper and a packet of gum, the difference between them five Gil.

Reno arches his eyebrow. "So this is your dilemma?"

Rude offers a tight smile. "… relatively minor compared to the affair of the heart, I know. But it still is a vital necessity."

Furrowing her eyebrows, Elena glances at the choice of sweets, and lets her gaze drift. "You know, I'd choose the strawberry bonbons."

"Huh." Reno checks the price. It's more expensive, but he knows that its Elena's favourite sweet in the whole entire Planet.

"… strawberry bonbons it is." Rude nods, discarding Option A and Option B for Option C.

Elena's glee is contagious, brightly burning stars that send comets alight before it fades.

sk

"… what's the problem?" Silent Rude may be, stupid he is not.

"Last night I… might have… no, I did muck up on… getting Tifa to like me." Relaxing one the bench, they lapse into a silence, save Elena munching her newly acquired packets of sweets as quickly as possible for more candy.

"… I see." After all, he was there. And he remembers everything.

Reno trying to flirt by using backfire tactics. Elena drunkenly apologizing, while being terrified by the rising hoard of invading chocobos. Reno still conscious despite being out of line, was slurring something about 'pretty, parallelogram eyes' – presumably Tifa's, although the image is strange to imagine. He himself was desperate to try and solve the situation, even though Elena was clinging to him for dear life. Eventually, though awkward, he managed to direct the both of them towards their apartment, after several misunderstandings.

At least the drink was on the house.

"Alright. So I know that wasn't the best way to go – but I've learnt my lesson. Promise." And for a second, it sounds genuine.

It's a lie, no doubt. Reno is just going to come back more bouncy and flamboyant and hope that this version of himself can win Tifa Lockheart. And if not, there's always next time – a different approach, a different appeal.

"But what do I do now? I mean… I have to make it up to her. Somehow."

Clearly, Reno's 'falling in love' phase has rendered him incapable of thought. He's had methods to handle the situation, fuelled by amusement. But the second this is 'real', then everything falls apart.

It's at that exact point that Elena chooses to return back to the conversation, noticing Reno's Puppy Eyes that never fail for the reaction he wants.

"Don't worry. We'll find a way – after all, we are Turks!" And Positive Miss Cheerleader is probably wondering why she said that, decidedly coming to the conclusion that Reno has Hypnotic Eyes. Rude is inclined to agree with that. It's one of the many reasons why he chooses to wear shades these days.

"Damn straight! But… what do we do?"

Sighing, Rude opens his other bag, which he had been hiding from them. "Give her these and apologize."

"Flowers?" Reno blinks, eyes impossibly wide. "You think she'll like them?"

"Oh, they're so pretty, Rude!" The Rookie Turk gasps in delight. "She'll definitely love them. What kind are they?"

"… begonias." He eventually says, smiling and feeling rather foolish.

"Mwah!" Impulsively, Reno kisses his forehead, hands clapping over his ears. Then makes an odd face, as if he can't believe he just did that. Or… his head tastes weird, which is quite a disturbing thought. "… I am never doing that again."

Nor would Rude want him to. But hopefully the message that roars in anger through the Sunglasses Of Doom is coming through just peachy.

"Okay!" Reno claps his hands, and grabs the begonias. "I'm going to get some mouthwash – and then, I'm heading straight to her."

"Hey! Careful with the flowers!" Elena calls after him, standing up and brushing the fallen sugar diamonds off her clothes. She turns to face Rude, and there's a smile on her face. "Wow."

"… shut up." The embarrassment floods through his cheeks.

"That must have been—"

"—better than the rape face look, yes?"

His comment wipes her smile away; replaced with a hot flush and a sour smirk.

So now two Turks stand in the park, red faced, miffed and brewing rain clouds that might ruin the afternoon.

"Make sure Reno doesn't fuck it up, okay?" Resigned, the two sufferers formed a silent truce. "Look out for him."

"Have no fear!" And the Happy Little Cheerleader gives another grin, before setting into a run. "I always do."