A/N: Here's Chapter 4! YAY! And no, the story isn't done yet. I am currently writing out chapter 7 so HA! LOL! Okay, you know those little voices in the back of your head that tell you to do something and when you don't do it, you end up paying for it big time? Well, Rufus is going to have one of those for the next 3 chapters. So stay tuned because it does get better than this XD
Disclaimer: I don't own it okay?! I so wish I did though! Because then I would be pulling off these pranks with Reno and dodging bullets from Rufus! XP
Disasters
Chapter 4: Disturbing Silence
The next few days passed uneventfully. The only thing Reno had left behind was his EMR, which sat in the umbrella rack collecting dust. Other than that, Reno's old office looked like no one had ever been in there at all. Now that Rufus thought about Reno's pranks, they were pretty funny and he occasionally let a slight smile slide when the thought came to mind. It just took a few days to get over he trauma of them happening. Rufus secretly enjoyed the pranks on Scarlet. Especially the bazooka one. He didn't like her either and he knew Reno despised her with a passion, but he would have to find some other way to oust her than continuing his pranks.
Rude was more silent than ever. Normally, he said a word or two. But he hadn't spoken to anyone since Reno left. He had to admit it though, Reno was what made the Turks fun and not so boring. And his pranks brought them and Rufus closer together as a type of family in their own annoying ways. They all wanted to kill Reno at times, but that was family and when he was gone, they missed him. Elena was quiet as well. She liked Reno and his annoying pranks on her. She once beat him with a clipboard because he gave her hair spray as a gift that dyed her hair green for a week. Elena grasped the thought of Reno as a type of annoying little brother, except he was only about 2 years older than her.
Reno laid back in his bed, listening to death metal all day. Since Rufus suspended him, it was no fun. There was no one to play pranks on and he accepted the fact that he was now an outsider. Reno sighed heavily sitting up.
"Might as well take a shower and get some food today... maybe it won't be so bad..." He thought out loud to himself, heading for the bathroom in his disheveled apartment. With piles of CD cases and books everywhere, it looked like a store had getting stocks in, but didn't have time to do inventory yet. After his shower, he dressed, grabbed his wallet and headed out. Wearing a normal tee shirt and jeans. Reno shoved his hands in his pockets while walking and pretending not to look miserable as he passed the office building where Shinra was now stationed.
Rufus was sitting through another long, staff meeting about pay cuts to the Mako reactor in Neblhiem. He was secretly wishing that something would happen to save him from the boredom and halt the meeting due to some explosion, caused by a radioactive tomato. Or even if the coffee maker was jammed due to chocolate chips. Curtacy of Reno, of course. But knew that it wouldn't happen because Reno wasn't there. Rufus wanted something to happen, as he glanced out of his window to see Reno walking down the sidewalk. He wanted him back in Shinra Inc., though he wouldn't admit it openly. Reno stepped inside Tifa's bar. He chose a seat at the end of the bar and banged his head on the table.
"Reno?!" Tifa asked unexpecting him to walk into her bar.
"Yo..." He said in a voice muffled by the table top.
"What happened to you? The last time we saw you was when Kadaj took Denzel." She took a mental note right away that it must've been something with Shinra.
Rufus suspended me because he couldn't take a joke and I can't go back until he says I can. Knowing Rufus Shinra... I never will..." He explained dully. Yep, definitely something to do with Shinra.
"Got anything to eat?" Tifa pondered for a minute.
"I have steak, I think. I'll go check the back." She said wiping her hands on a dish rag, then headed back to the kitchen.
"Thanks."
Rufus looked at his watch. The staff meeting was much too long and Palmer was getting on Rufus' nerves. The chunk of lard wouldn't shut up for a split second! Reeve wanted a piece of the cake too, and Rufus knew quite well what he was thinking.
"Mr. President, shouldn't the people of Neblhiem have a say in this? I mean, it is their town and the reactor is poisoning the water supply." Reeve suggested quietly to Rufus, since he sat next to him.
"That is true, Reeve. I do believe that the reactor should be shut down or repaired. Maybe even both. Or maybe I should just shoot Palmer..." Rufus whispered back, making Reeve give a slight chuckle.
"You've changed Mr. President. It's been nearly a week since Reno was suspended... It seems too quiet." Rufus darted his eyes to the window quickly, then back to the meeting.
"I secretly wish that Reno was here to interrupt this meeting to shut Palmer up..."
"He's not going to come back, until you let him, sir. Reno knows how you are."
Reno wandered back to his apartment after thanking Tifa for the meal and paying her the 70 gil. He looked in the direction of the office building, a.k.a. New Shinra Inc., and sighed heavily then continued on. No way would Shinra take him back into the company. Elena looked out her window to see Reno on the sidewalk. She gave a small wave, but he turned around and started walking, not seeing her. She sighed heavily, frowning, then turned back to her paperwork. That's all they've been doing lately. Since Reno left, the paperwork has piled up even more for the 3 of them. It was rather unnerving. Even the silence was driving herself and Rude nuts! Since they were around Reno more often, the sound of some explosion or another ranting because of a prank, became a daily ritual for them. Without him and the daily racket, it was simply disturbing silence. At least Reno followed orders and served time for his pranks. But it was still silent without him and boring.
A/N: Please listen to the little voice in the back of your mind and review! XD See the little box there? All you have to do is press it... LOL! LOVE YA!!!