This chapter rated M for crude language and behavior. Also, I promise I'm not trying to turn Bryn and Elena into best friends. Promise! The conversation about the shirt is a reference to a previous conversation Elena and Bryn had in Betrayal and Redemption.
Enjoy.
fire mystic
Unexpected Encounters
If there was one thing Shinra Headquarters was good for, Bryn decided, it was walking. The doctors had told her no running, but walking was allowed, and Reno told her it would be fine as long as she stayed in the area designated for personnel quarters. Tseng had even cleared it for her to use the gym, but she didn't feel quite comfortable with that. But the halls and stairways were perfect as long as she obeyed the "restricted access" signs.
When she asked Reno about what to say to people, he explained that she probably wouldn't see too many people during the day other than housekeeping, and they probably wouldn't question her. If anyone did, all she had to do was mention Reno's name. They all knew him.
She set out on her first full day living in Reno's quarters, feeling very self-conscious until she picked up her pace, and concentrating on her walking became more important than her discomfort in her surroundings.
As it turned out, she did run into someone. She was halfway down one hall, wondering if she would ever be able to find her way back to Reno's when a door opened behind her and she heard her name.
She turned to find Elena in the hall behind her, waving her over. Now, there was a surprise to say the least.
"I'm so glad you came by," Elena exclaimed as she approached.
"You are?" Elena nodded frantically, dragging her into her apartment as she did so. Bryn didn't have much experience dealing with Elena, and didn't consider them friends. The only thing she was sure of was that Elena was protective of Reno, whether as a friend or a fellow Turk. Or both. She couldn't imagine why Elena seemed so happy to see her.
Dragging her into the kitchen, Elena practically placed her in a chair and turned around in a complete circle.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Water?" Bryn felt somehow intimidated.
Elena got her a glass and poured her some water from the refrigerator and placed it on the table in front of Bryn, sat down next to her, and then bounced up again.
"Ice. I didn't ask if you want ice."
Picking up the glass, Bryn waved Elena back to her seat and took a sip.
"It's fine, Elena. I don't need ice."
Elena sat and stared at her.
"Elena? Are you okay?" She didn't know what else to say.
Elena smiled, almost shyly, and blushed, raising her hands to her face as if to contain the heat flooding her cheeks.
"I'm sorry. This is very strange, but you happened to be walking by, and I need your advice. I hope you don't mind."
This was not the Elena that Bryn was used to dealing with, but she had nothing against helping her if she could.
"Sure. I'll try if I can."
Elena couldn't keep her focus on anything in the room. Her attention kept bouncing from one thing to the next, and it was clear she was flustered. When she started to speak, it was as if the flood gates had opened.
"It was just so unexpected. I never thought it would happen, and when he carried me off the range, and what he said after, well I couldn't believe any of it, and a part of me even thought I was dreaming it all, and then he asked me out, literally knocked on my door to check on me, for Gaia's sake, and asked me out, I mean to his place for dinner, and I don't know what I'm doing, what to wear, if I'll be able to speak when he shows up, or if I'll just make a complete ass out of myself."
She stopped short. Bryn, slightly dazed by the rush of words, didn't know if she should speak or if she should wait to see if Elena had something more to say.
Elena finally made eye contact, her brown eyes clearly pleading. "Well?"
Bryn couldn't help but smile. It was so strange, Elena asking her for advice. What did she really know about this anyway? Her relationship with Reno had been completely unexpected and explosive, totally different from what Elena was describing, and she didn't know if she had the right answers, or any answers, for that matter.
"I'm…not sure I can help, Elena."
Panic filled her dark eyes.
"You have to! Who else can I ask?"
Bryn was sure there were other people Elena could ask. Weren't there? If not, it wouldn't hurt her to try.
"Tell me what I can do."
What profound relief was in Elena's expression.
"You can tell me what to do!"
Bryn wanted to laugh, but she was too shocked.
"I can't tell you that, Elena. It has to come naturally."
A small fist slammed down on the table.
"I know that! But..but…I don't even know what to wear!"
Maybe that, Bryn could help her with. She tried to sift through what Elena had said about her upcoming date.
"You said it was at his place?"
"That's what he said." She paused, her features scrunching up in confusion. "And he told me to wear something like what I had on."
Bryn was finding this funnier by the minute.
"Well then what's the problem?"
Horror-stricken; that was the word for what was reflected on Elena's face.
"I can't! I was wearing my old beat up jeans and an even older oxford shirt. That would never be acceptable for him! I don't know what he was thinking!"
Bryn's curiosity was piqued.
"Do I know who 'he' is?"
Blinking disbelievingly, Elena threw her hands up.
"Tseng, of course. I thought you knew."
Bryn couldn't figure how she would have known, or why Elena had assumed she did. But now she saw what the problem was. No, it didn't sound right; Tseng, she guessed would be more formal. But then again…
"You know, Elena, if that's what he said, maybe that's what he wants."
"Faded, baggy jeans and a plain button-down shirt?"
Bryn smiled knowingly, recalling one of her previous encounters with Elena. "If you recall, there's something to be said for a plain old button-down shirt. Isn't there?"
Elena went blank.
"Does Reno like when you where them?"
Reno would have been proud of Bryn's coy smirk.
"What do you think?"
Elena nodded. "I'll do it, then. Will you help me pick it out?"
Would wonders never cease? Bryn followed Elena to her bedroom closet and, as if they had been girlfriends for ages, helped her pick out a green shirt that was roomy enough to be comfortable, yet perfectly complimented her femininity. Along with a pair of neat jeans and sandals, Elena was set. Studying herself in the door-length mirror, she glanced at Bryn's reflection.
"Are you sure? I want to make a good impression."
"I can't be sure, Elena. You asked what I would do, and this is it. He already knows you; maybe he wants to be comfortable, get to know the you that isn't a Turk. I think you should just be yourself."
"What if he doesn't like me?"
"What if he does?"
Finally, some of the concern bled from Elena's eyes and she even managed a small smile.
"Thank you, Bryn. There really aren't very many people I could ask about this. Thank you for being nice."
"I hope it helps. Now if I could ask a favor in return?" She couldn't believe she had to ask this. "Would you mind directing me back to Reno's?"
If Elena's directions didn't fail, Bryn was nearly back to Reno's quarters when she rounded a corner, and stopped short when she saw the Turk that was leaning against the wall midway down the hall. Tall and lanky, his build reminded her vaguely of Reno, but that was the only similarity she could see. He had dark hair cut short and spiky around his head, and when he turned his head at her approach, she could see his eyes, very dark brown if not black, set in a very bland face that reflected nothing but boredom. There was another emotion that flickered there that Bryn couldn't put an exact name to, but it was enough to chill her blood.
What was he doing there? He could have been waiting, but he wasn't near anybody's door. Had he been sent to check on her? She didn't think so; Reno would have let her know.
Smiling and nodding, trying to be polite as she would with anyone else, she picked up her pace. She was almost past him when he spoke, softly murmuring.
"So you're Reno's new bitch."
She stopped short, turning to him. Had she heard him right?
"Excuse me?"
He was laughing, a cold, humorless sound, running a finger across his upper lip as if he were making a vague attempt at concealing his wit. He looked up at her then, and she backed away from what she saw. Better safe than sorry.
"You're not the only one, you know. He's a player; that'll never change."
Bryn was backing slowly down the hall. There was no way she was turning her back on him.
"Hell, he could be fucking someone up right now. You'd never know."
"I…I" Bryn stammered. She turned partially at the sound of the elevator door opening around the corner. The Turk moved in her peripheral vision, and when she turned fully back, he was gone.
Cautiously, more sensitive to her new and apparently not-so-safe environment, Bryn returned to Reno's quarters, keeping in mind as many details of the mysterious Turk as she could for later reference.
