"He'll survive."
"You certain?" Tseng looked at Reno from where he sat, perched on the edge of one of the stools by the bar in the Turk leader's apartment. "I still have some doubts, but I don't know if they've any leg to stand on."
"I'm positive." Reno lounged in one of the soft, shapeless chairs of Tseng's he liked so much and lit a cigarette. "He's had a rough time living with his father, and now that he's been let loose in the real world, you'll be seeing some definite changes in him." He handed the cigarette to Tseng, who smoked contemplatively.
"How would taking him into the slums for a day or two affect him?" he asked after a few moments. "Introduce him to what he's going to have to deal with someday. Show him what life is all about for some of the people he's going to be presiding over."
"Hm. Wouldn't hurt him any, that's for sure." Reno took back the cigarette. "It's going to come as a shock to him, which could be played both ways." He blew a thin stream of smoke towards the window and continued. "You could use it to make sure as hell he understands what life in the slums is like, slipping in a few tidbits of your own, or it could be so that he know exactly why him and those people are so different. They're from two different worlds, Tseng, and there's no way they can occupy the same space."
"But maybe they won't have to," Tseng said as the cigarette changed hands yet again. "What was the second thought?"
"Well-" Reno paused, toying with his sunglasses. "I'm not so sure if this is such a good idea, but-" He sighed. "No, it would never work. Just forget I ever said anything."
"Uh-uh." Tseng shook his head. "You're not getting away with that. Finish what you started, Reno."
The young Turk shifted uncomfortably. "Well, it's kinda shaky. Risky, you know?" He took a nervous draw on the cigarette. "I figure we can take him down into the slums and kinda show him around, you know? But then, what if we just kind of- I don't know. Just left him for a while?"
Tseng raised an eyebrow at his employee. Reno shrugged, staring at his hands.
"I told you it was a bad idea," he said, grinding the cigarette out in the ashtray. Suddenly, he realized that Tseng hadn't said anything for a long while. "Tseng?" He looked up and groaned when he saw the expression on his boss' face.
"No," he said firmly. "Forget it. It was a stupid idea. Just completely forget that I ever said anything." Tseng still didn't say a word. Reno shook his head and sighed overdramatically. "Okay, fine. But, Tseng, promise me something."
"What?"
"That when our execution papers come, you'll make sure it doesn't happen in my apartment? I'd hate to think of bloodstains in the carpet."
Tseng stared for a moment then shook his head, grinning. "Reno, the Plate could fall down tomorrow and all you'd worry about would be whether or not you could get the dust out of your suit."
"Well, a guy's gotta have some standards," Reno said, flicking the ash off the end of his cigarette.
"Besides," Tseng continued, ignoring his employee, "you wouldn't exactly be in any position to care, being dead and all."
Reno glared at the older Turk who returned his gaze coolly. "Fine, let's change the subject, shall we?"
"You brought it up, if I may remind you."
"Yeah, well if you hadn't-"
"You two bicker more than any other couple I know, and that includes married ones."
Whatever Reno was about to say was cut short as the doorway was filled with over six feet of Turk.
"I trust that I'm not interrupting anything important?" Rude asked as he stepped into the room. "At least- not official."
"No, don't worry." Tseng shot Rude a glance and a wink. "In fact, I'm sure Reno will be glad to thank you for helping him save a good deal of face. I do believe he was just about to say-"
"Want something to drink, Rude man?" Reno interrupted loudly, getting up and heading over to the bar. Tseng smiled, hiding it behind his glass. Rude's mouth quirked in rare amusement as he took a seat on Tseng's couch.
"I hear you two have been assigned to his royal highness, the sullen beauty." Rude accepted the drink Reno offered and glanced at Tseng.
"Sullen beauty, eh?" Tseng raised an eyebrow. "Where did that one come from?"
"You hear things walking down the hallways around here," Rude said. "Especially when no one notices you."
Reno shook his head and made a sound, half laugh, half snort. He could never figure it out: at over six feet tall, Rude was nevertheless almost unnoticeable unless he made a conscious effort to be. He could, and did, walk through crowded rooms without an eye turning his way. It was one of the reasons he had been hired. One of them.
"Down the upper hallways the cleaning staff has nothing to do but gossip. From what I hear, young Rufus is quite popular in the minds of the ladies." Rude shrugged and drained his glass. "Not that I'd know. You two have better judgment than I do, in that respect. Personally, I think he would benefit from getting knocked down off that pedestal into some real world dirt, but again, that's just me."
"Odd that you should say that, Rude." Tseng glanced at Reno who shrugged and mouthed the words: This was not my idea. Tseng nodded.
Rude sat silently while Tseng filled him in on their plans, with Reno adding the odd detail here and there. When they were finished, he set his glass down and leaned back.
"Before I say anything, there's just one more thing I'd like to know." Rude straightened momentarily and fixed Tseng with an unreadable look.
"Was this Reno's idea?"