A/N Yay, the next chappie up. Maybe I should let Reno continue to threaten Bob. A smidge of Relena.
"Thoughts"
Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything that belongs to Square-Soft/Enix. Though I wish I do.
Chapter 9
Before either Turk could reply, Tseng's crisp voice cut through the air. "Elena this not the time or place to discuss that. Escort Reno and Rude to the Infirmary, than come to my office. We will discuss your sister there."
Elena gave a curt nod as she did what Tseng had told her to do. She couldn't help but admire the Turk leader; he was always so, cool, calm and collected. Not to mention good looking. Elena liked Tseng as an older brother who she always wanted to impress, that did not however stop the smile that crept up on her face, or the slight blush that showed on her cheeks.
Reno watching her out the corner of his eyes scowled faintly. Smirking inwardly, he flinched as if pain, allowing a pained expression to come to his face.
Elena was brought out of her thoughts when she noticed Reno cringe. A look of concern lit her face. "Are you okay Reno?" she asked as she tightened her arm around his waist. With a grimace of pain Reno nodded. With a look of concern Elena scooted closer towards Reno to help support him.
Reno eyes twinkled mischievously, while still smirking inwardly. Behind his sunglasses Rude rolled his eyes. He knew that though badly injured Reno had received worse injuries, and had complained about seeking medical attention. Rude knew Reno only wanted Elena's attention; he couldn't seem to resist the spirited blonde.
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After leaving the two injured Turks in the infirmary Elena went to Tseng's office and knocked on the door, going in after hearing Tseng say "Enter." "Sir?" Elena questioned. "Sit down please Elena" Tseng said coolly.
Feeling nervous Elena sat down in the seat in front of Tseng's desk. Tseng spoke again "I'm afraid that I have received information that Turk Gun perished in the tragedy of Sector Seven today." Elena felt tears some to her eyes. This was all Rufus's fault. True Gun may have perished another day, but if Rufus hadn't sent Gun to Sector Seven she would be alive.
Elena forced herself to listen as she realised that, Tseng was once again speaking. "Unfortunately we are low on Turk numbers. With Gun dead, as well as others, and with Reno unable to work for at least a week we are looking to recruit someone to join the ranks of the Turks. Would you like to join Elena?" Tseng said quietly in his smooth voice.
Elena's oh so intelligent answer was "…Eh?" Could she really join the group which had taken hundreds of lives, in the hours earlier?
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With Reno and Rude
Rude, having been patched up was now sitting nest to a grumpy hospitalized Reno. Reno despised being in the infirmary, the only thing that kept him there, was the fact that Tseng had threatened Reno's pay check, threatening to dock his pay unless the rested till he was sufficiently recovered. Unfortunately for Rude, Reno's vocal chords had not been damaged, and were in full use.
Reno was bored. So he decided to try to get his silent partner to talk. Unfortunately he hadn't been able to get a reply from his stoic friend, not even when he had mentioned the busty brunette from AVALANCHE that Rude seemed to have admired.
Giving up on that tactic Reno tried another approach "Do you reckon Gun made it?"
"…" Rude replied
"How do you think Rufus is gonna to react?" Reno tried
"…"
"Barney is a purple dinosaur, who needs to learn something other than fact '2 plus 2' is 4, maybe 3 plus 36?" Reno said innocently.
"…" Rude blinked. Unfortunately for Reno this reaction was hidden behind the Turks sunglasses, which seemed to be welded to his face.
Extremely bored and desperate, Reno yelled, "Look! There's Barney with a flying donkey!"
To Reno's increasing dismay, a passing nurse, who had only heard the last comment, thought that the redhead was hallucinating, and immediately said that was to have a healthy diet, excluding junk and sugary food as well as alcohol.
At that Reno, really stared to really hallucinate, claiming that Sponge Bob Square Pants wanted his EMR.
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Tseng's office
Tseng raised an eyebrow at Elena's… answer. "So? Yes or No"
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Rude and Reno (Infirmary)
After Reno 'convinced' (meaning threatening the poor woman, till she agreed) the nurse to let him continue his present diet, i.e. sugar, alcohol, junk, sugar, sugar, alcohol, alcohol and alcohol. Reno asked "I wonder who's gonna be the new recruit?"
"Wouldn't you like to know" said a cheerful-I-know-something-you-don't-know-voice. The two men turned to see a petite blonde woman, followed by their black haired Turk leader.
"Laney, there you are! Just the person I wanted to see, so any um… new developments" Reno said hopefully. Elena's smile which looked slightly forced, dropped as she gave him a glare, telling Reno that he would have to try a different approach to get the information. "Don't call me 'Laney' its Elena. E-L-E-N-A" snapped the annoyed Elena.
"Aw, please tell me Lena" Reno said smirking. Though inwardly frowned, there was something different about the blonde, he just couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Before the blonde could do anymore damage to the annoying red haired second in command. Rude said "Sir. Who is the new Turk recruit?"
Tseng smiled "You're looking at her."
Reno's jaw dropped, "What that bimbo? There is no way she could be a Turk, she's just a little rich girl. Mummy's little darling."
Tseng said blandly with the slightest hint of amusement "I suggest you shut up Reno before Elena electrocutes you with your EMR." Reno turned to see a very pissed Elena, adjusting his EMR to a VERY painful voltage.
Reno was stunned. He hadn't even noticed his weapon go missing. Reno grinned "Not bad… Rookie" he said, knowing that Tseng wouldn't let Elena fry him. "Maybe Lena joining won't be too bad" Reno thought.
"Elena, as much as I would like you to fry Reno, please do not. We are short handed as it is at the moment" Tseng ordered firmly.
Elena looked like Christmas was cancelled. Her face brightened which wiped the grin off Reno's face, "Can I shoot him? Please... Sir?" She asked enthusiastically. Tseng merely shook his head "Things are definitely going to be interesting from now on" he thought to himself, as he took in Elena's once again, crestfallen expression.
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Shin-Ra building 10 pm
Elena was sitting on the roof of Shin-Ra HQ. She had wanted a quiet place to think about what had happened earlier, that day. Her muffled sobs filled the air. Her sister was dead. Hundreds of people were dead. She had joined the very cause of their deaths.
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Shin-Ra Infirmary
It was late. Rude had left hours earlier. Reno felt like he was going insane, he was bored "This is freaking stupid. I will die of boredom" he thought, "If not I won't survive the crap they give me to eat. They call that stuff food?" he shuddered at the memory of his dinner, which was healthy. The only thing which resembled anything close to unhealthy was the frozen yoghurt he had eaten for dessert. Reno sulked as his sugar cravings grew, especially for… chocolate.
Reno brightened. He remembered that there was a vending machine outside the staffroom. Reno then groaned as he remembered that the staffroom was at the top floor, and his injuries were definitely a hindrance.
Reno scanned the room, he wanted something chocolaty to eat, hopefully someone had left a bar of chocolate behind. No such luck. He spotted a wheelchair next to his bed head. "Well since I'm in a wheelchair I'm technically 'resting', now Tseng can't dock my pay" he thought smirking. Without another thought, he grabbed his crutches and used them to help him into the wheelchair. Reno left the infirmary, bringing his crutches with him.
He made it to a vending machine with no problems, and was on his way back to the lifts when he noticed that the door leading to the roof was slightly a jar. He tensed as his Turk senses kicked in. Due to years of constant danger, he could faintly hear muffled sobs. Reno instincts told him that there was no immediate threat in the area. Reno wondered who would be in the building at this hour. Even Rufus had gone home.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Reno used his crutches and slowly made his way up the stairs. He pushed the door, which opened quietly. Reno saw the back of a petite blonde person. Before he could make another move he heard the sound of the safety being turned off a gun. He saw Elena pointing her gun at him, eyeing him with suspicion.
"Not bad Rookie. Are you planning to shoot me?" Reno drawled. He knew that she wasn't going to shoot him… well hoped anyway. He noticed that her eyes were red and puffy. He wondered why she was crying, Reno was determined to find out the reason.
Elena relaxed slightly as he said that. "You can't be too careful, when you've lived in the slums" she said as she, put the safety feature back on, and put the weapon away. "Shouldn't you be resting in the infirmary?" she asked pointedly, as she turned around and sat down looking in the same direction as before.
"Nah" Reno said, sitting down next to her. "I'll get plenty of rest when I die" he said lightly. "You're insufferable" Elena grumbled, wondering why he was here with her anyway.
"Why were crying?" Reno asked.
"I wasn't crying" Elena lied, defensively.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Laney, Laney, Laney... Lena. If you want to be a good Turk, you'll need to learn to lie a hell of a lot better. Even if I wasn't a Turk, which I am, I can tell that you've been crying. Your eyes are red and puffy" Reno said smugly, "Now tell me."
"No. Why should I?" Elena said flatly. "Look Reno, go away. Leave me alone. I can't deal with you at the moment. You're not one the top 100 people I would tell about my problems, I haven't known you that long, and what little I do know about you id that you are a; cocky, insensitive, womanizing jerk. So leave me ALONE!" she said snarled.
Reno frowned. He didn't like this. This was very out of character for the bright, cheerful, chirpy, bubbly and chatty blonde she always was. Reno wondered what had happened; he had sensed something was wrong with her when she had come in to the infirmary with Tseng. Reno limped over to Elena and sat down next to her.
They sat in silence.
Reno wondered how he could get Elena to tell him why she was crying. Reno knew he could always order Elena to tell him what was wrong, after all injured or not, he was still her superior. But he didn't want to do that, as he wanted his new co-worker to tell him by free will. He wondered if he should get Gun to speak to her, speaking of which…
"Hey, Laney do ya know where Gun is?" Reno asked. Elena stiffened at is question, bitting her lip in a bad attempt to stop her tears from resurfacing. Reno heard her breath catch and connected the dots. Gun going with them on the Sector Seven mission. Gun not reporting in. Rude and himself not hearing about her from Tseng. Gun was dead, Reno realised.
"Laney, I'm so sorry" Reno said voice filled with uncharacteristic gentleness. Elena didn't even to pretend to not understand what Reno was apologising about, instead she sobbed into his crumpled navy blue uniform.
Reno wrapped his arms around Elena. He was at a loss about what to do. He wasn't used to comforting women; Reno was more of a love 'em and leave 'em type of guy. Elena was different though. Not only was she a fellow Turk, but there was something about her that screamed innocence, and naivety. Reno decided to try to comfort her anyway.
Reno said softly "You know something Elena? Us Turks consider ourselves a family, strange as it seems. The Turks are just one 'big' ol' family." Reno paused "You know what the number one rule for the Turks is?" Reno felt Elena shake her head, "We look out for each other. As sappy as that is, even I don't question that rule." He finished mako blue eyes soft.
Reno heard Elena's sobs lessen. Elena looked up at Reno and gave him a watery smile "Thanks Reno" she said quietly feeling slightly better. Rising to her feet, Elena looked down at the redhead, and rolled her eyes as she saw the usual cocky arrogant look on his face.
Giving Elena his infamous smirk, he said "You're a Turk know Elena. Turks don't cry. Not even Rookies" his smirk widened as he saw the furious glare that he was receiving from the new Turk, and was actually relieved that he was already injured. He had a feeling that if he weren't injured, Elena would have made his current injuries look painless, compared to the ones she would have given him.
Reno successfully suppressed the urge to flinch as he got up. "C'mon Babe, get your ass home… Unless you want to share my hospital bed." Reno said voice filled with false hope and innocence.
A/NHopefully I'm not making their relationship progress to fast. Sorry if the chapter was boring, I was going to hold it but I realised that I proably couldn't do to much more in this chapter. I hope that the chapter didn't have to much randomness, but I figured people get desperate when bored.
Disclaimer: I don't own Barney, Sponge Bob, or any brand of chocolate mentioned.
