Pride II
"What the hell?" said Reno. He looked around the room as he leaned forward feeling slightly bruised across his arms, legs and his chest. Rude and Elena were by his side, one smiled and the other nodded as we woke. Rude opened his mouth to say something but Reno interrupted him. "Don't say anything Rude, come closer…. I'm dying."
Rude leaned in and put his ear close to Reno's mouth but in disbelief. "Yeah?" he asked.
"I gotta tell you something that I think you have the right to know," he continued. Rude moved backwards so that he could look his friend in the eye. He looked serious which was a novelty and his eyes looked kind of sad, Rude had started to worry a little. "I'm sorry man, you're bald."
"Reno you shouldn't do stuff like that," said Elena who got a tongue stuck out at her for her trouble.
Rude smiled and Reno laughed holding his stomach. "Are you okay?" asked Rude standing up.
"No," he said frowning with innocent, puppy dog eyes "Rudie, I hitted my head." The redhead pointed to and poked the delicate area, as if the Turk didn't know what a head was. Rude smiled sympathetically and this was reciprocated, Reno feeling and looking very sorry for himself. Reno was waiting for something but it didn't seem to come. He looked briefly at Rude and then looked Elena up and down as she had remained in the same place since Reno had woken up.
"What?" she asked as she noticed him doing this and grinning, "my face is a little higher up Reno," she sounded annoyed, though looked amused at the same time.
"Hehe," said Reno looking cocky, "'Lena, you're a girl." For some reason Rude decided to giggle slightly.
"Nice one, genius," she said slightly taken back, "and you decided to investigate into this now?"
"Just some things I noticed," he said looking at her again smirking, laid back. "I also noticed that neither of you appear to have any presents." Reno thought that a person in hospital, if this person were him, had an automatic right to presents.
"Sorry," said Rude.
"Oh well, so anyway this is like the worst hospital ever." Rude and Elena looked puzzled. "I mean where's all the slutty nurses? It just ain't fair."
Elena was shocked by this but then she had heard worse, she started to say something "Reno that's so sexist, is that all you think ..."
"This place divided up, you know mixed wards or what?" he continued smugly having completely ignored Elena.
"It's mixed," answered Rude.
"Oh good, well in that case I might wander round here a little, see who's in, try and find me some sex… depends on what they're in for though, don't wanna get aids or nuffin," he faded away sounding almost thoughtful.
Elena ignored the urge to laugh but failed to keep herself from smiling like Rude. "You're not gonna be in here all that longer, you'll probably come out tomorrow."
"Oh, what, that sucks," Reno threw his arm down onto the bed as the other was in plaster.
"You're really lucky Reno, it could have been much worse," said Rude.
"Yeah I guess," he replied smirking slightly "whoa, man… do you have a license for that face?" He laughed at an extremely angry looking Tseng as he entered.
"Well," Tseng casually strolled over to the bed, "I was going to ask Reno how you were doing and if you needed another few days off." Reno shot evils at Tseng, slumped down and folded his arms as best as he could. He knew exactly what was about to come. "But if you're well enough to make immature comments like that then you can come back tomorrow."
"Fine," said Reno turning his head sideways as Tseng left.
"Well done Reno," said Elena smugly "If you'd have kept your mouth shut you could have stayed in here for longer."
"He was gonna make me work anyway idiot," said Reno smirking "so I might as well have gave him a reason right?" he smiled and left Elena speechless. She was wondering if there might me some slight logic in what Reno had just said but she didn't really know how to go about trying to find it. A comeback failed her.
"Well Reno we have to get back to work, we'll see you tomorrow after you come out." She smiled at her accidental joke that really wasn't that funny. She saw Reno's evils and left the room.
"Bye then," he said sarcastically.
"Later," said Rude sincerely as he went back to his office after Elena.
Now he was on his own again there was nothing much for him to do. He could irritate the hospital workers, drop things on the floor for nurses to pick up as he watched intently or he could always go back to sleep. He'd probably need it, going back to some serious hard work after an easy couple days. Instead of lying in bed all day daydreaming or actually being asleep he would have to actually sit at his desk and do that. It was hard work because his office chair was far less comfortable and the office and work related surroundings sometimes made the atmosphere less than perfect for naps.
"Morning Reno," Elena smiled as the redhead strutted into the office looking half asleep, she half walked half skipped over to Reno threw her arms around him and laughed a little into his neck. Before he could question anything Rude ran over to him screaming, making Reno almost wet himself after his heart restarted.
"Hey partner!" the bald man screamed as he grabbed his friend.
"What the fuck!," shouted Reno pulling away from Rude "you guys trying to put me back inside… Elena what up with Rude, did you drug him?"
"No," she smiled "we're all just so happy to see you."
"Don't you mean both?" smirked Reno. He liked correcting people's grammar, it made him feel smart.
"No, all" corrected Rude.
"Reno," said Tseng putting his arms out as he entered the room.
"Holy crap!" Reno made to make a sharp exit out of the room but the other, more macho Turk held him back. Rude held his friend's head close to his chest to try and calm him down. He'd had to do this procedure (among several others) before to keep his partner calm and under control.
After Reno had got his breath back he stepped away from the others to reduce the shock and confusion on his mind and finally managed to mutter the question. "What the hell was all that about?"
"Nice cast," said Rude noticing it on his friend's left arm.
"It's white," said Reno smiling.
"Not for long." Elena pulled out a big pack of multicoloured marker pens. "Rude, hold him still."
Before he could do anything about it Reno found himself being held down by Tseng and Rude whilst Elena drew luminous flowers, hearts and bunnies onto his cast. The other three Turks signed their names: Elena in pink, Rude in green, and Tseng in purple.
When they had finished they let Reno stand up and he took a look at his arm. He saw the rainbow and the smiley faces and scowled.
"Hey Reno, what is says on your cast…" said Rude "is that true?"
Reno started to read the underside of his cast, "Cloud so didn't!" Tseng, Rude and Elena all laughed though it was a little uncalled for, and quite harsh. They waited for a response.
Reno took another quick look at his arm and said, "Sure it's girly, maybe a little gay but I think I wear it well." He took off his jacket, rolled up his shirt sleeve so that his cast could be properly seen, threw it over his shoulder and gave a cocky but cheesy smile to his colleagues.
"I'll be in my office if anyone needs me." The redhead left the other three Turks bewildered as they watched him walk about in that same cocky-confident style that he always had done; even when sporting a multicoloured luminous cast fit with pink bunnies, hearts and messages regarding Cloud.
