Gabryelle stared at Rufus Shinra as if he were insane. She suddenly realized that she had stared at him the same way when he had offered her a position in the Turks. Maybe he was crazy… That would explain a lot, actually.
"Excuse me, sir." Gabryelle forced herself to say, "I think I may have heard you wrong. Could you repeat that?"
"You heard me correctly, Gabryelle. You shall be Reno's partner from now on." Rufus didn't even look up from his computer, as if he weren't aware of how insane his last sentence was.
"What about Rude, sir?"
"He's partnering up with Elena."
She gaped at him, "But, sir, I thought Elena was Tseng's partner!"
Rufus looked up then, and frowned at her, "Do you actually believe Tseng needs a partner?" he went back to his computer, "Gabryelle, my decision is final. Reno is your partner. Now, please, I have business to attend to." He smiled slightly.
"Yes, sir. Forgive me. Um…" She stared at him, then fled out of his office when he looked up at her again.
- - -
"What?"
Gabryelle stared at Reno, already knowing he was insane.
"Partners?" The redhead grinned as if he were happy about it. "You and me?"
"No, the other Reno and Gabryelle we know."
Reno pulled her into a hug, "I didn't actually think he'd listen to me, yo."
She pushed him away and gaped at him, "You asked Rufus to do this to me?"
Reno's eyes widened, "He did that, too?!"
Gabryelle stared at him. Then glared, "What else did you ask him, Reno?"
"Nothing!" he grinned shyly.