Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII. Or Elena. Or Rude. Or Reno… but that'd be kinda nice, yum… :Slaps fangirl self:
Summary: Rude confronts Reno, ack! Just read on yourself, will ya? I'm in a sluggish mood, which means I'm in no condition to summarize. I'm liable to write a misleading synopsis! Oh, what is the world coming to?
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"…"
Reno rolled his eyes upon feeling Rude's heavy shadow slowly creeping towards him. Without bothering to move his fiery head, Reno attempted to focus the hushed fellow within his vision, but such a task was not possible from the angle in which he lay on the beaten couch. Although his main companion was not among his range of sight, Reno could be certain Rude was eyeing him with a furrowed brow.
"Can I help you?" Reno enquired dryly, as his mind began to settle on the colourful images dancing on the erratic television screen.
Rude coughed slightly, as he lowly mumbled a few brief words under his breath.
"What's crackin', Rude ol' boy?"
To Rude's surprise, Reno made an effort to listen to the opinions in which he wished to share. The bloke lifted his head from the armrest and propped his feet upon the coffee table. He skilfully flipped the plastic remote control up in the air with his right hand, before swiftly catching it with his dominant left and gently tapping the worn POWER button. Immediately, the TV's pixelated picture imploded, and it began to sizzle like a bowl of Rice Krispies doused in milk, as it cooled from the heat which the electricity had caused when jumping about inside. Reno turned and offered Rude a genuine smile, a rarity among his collection of condescending expressions.
"Yeah, I was hopin' I could be askin' you of a favour Reno," Rude began.
"Ask away," Reno intertwined his long, slender fingers and placed them behind his head, within his red mane as he awaited Rude's demands.
Unconsciously, Rude rubbed the back of his hairless head with his palm as he pondered the possible ways he could tell his mate what he'd been thinking. "Take it easy on Elena, will ya'?"
As his request sunk in, Reno's refreshing grin turned into another one of his common, lop-sided smirks. "I said you could ask. Didn't say I'd comply."
"Reno, seriously."
Reno examined his hangnails. "Y'know, this is probably the most you've spoken since I've known you…"
Rude shook his head as he removed his sunglasses. "Dude, you gotta know when to quit bein' an ass."
Reno glared at his eyes. He had never noticed how radiant they were, but as he saw the expression of sympathy, he cocked an eyebrow.
Rude continued. "You've always been a joker but never this bad. Honestly man, cut her some slack."
The redhead's eyes widened. He took note of the way Rude said 'her'.
Confusion swept across the bald man's face. "What?"
"…You have a thing for 'Lena." The look on his face was a cross between being amused and disgusted.
Rude's expression of bewilderment only deepened.
"You've never given a damn about how I've treated people before, why start now?"
"Uh-"
"'Cause you love her, that's why!"
"No, I-"
"I knew it! Ever since that stupid kiss at New Year's…"
"Reno, I-"
"I mean if you can't tell your best friend these things who can-"
"Shut up!"
Reno's chatter disintegrated. His jaw dropped in complete shock. He had never, ever heard Rude speak with such frustration.
"Reno, please don't…"
But the smaller of the two men interrupted with a devilish frown. He wasn't about to hear Rude's plea without knowing the truth. He gave him a questioning look.
Rude shrugged and humbly looked down at the carpet.
Reno was stunned. "Oh."
"Well, I don't know…"
"My."
"I guess she's a nice girl 'n' all…"
"God."
Rude pulled his shades back down to hide the embarrassment leaking from his eyes.
Reno threw his hands up in frenzy. "You have got to be kidding me," he said as he stomped to his room and loudly slammed the door behind him.
Rude rubbed the back of his warm neck as he came to realize what had just happened. As he teetered slowly towards his own room, he became slightly saddened with this unexpected turn in events. He was hoping to help Elena, not to let Reno know about…
"What happened?" Elena swung her door open, nearly breaking Rude's nose.
Rude jolted backwards, tripping over the coffee table and falling hard on the floor.
Elena gasped and quickly aided the man in retrieving his balance. "Oh geez, I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" she asked, very concerned.
He nodded, his face turning beet red.
"I didn't mean to hit you, I-I just heard someone yell and I was worried a-and I thought maybe someone was hurt and I had to come check and, and… Oh, Lord, I'm rambling aren't I?"
Rude smiled. He swallowed as the flushing of his cheeks continued.
Elena giggled, "Did anything happen?"
He rapidly shook his head, and scooted past a puzzled Elena, hoping to leave this uncomfortable situation as soon as possible.
The red bordering Rude's cheekbones remained even after he had shut his bedroom door. It only began to fade when the soft sound of Elena's light snoring could be heard and he, too, dozed off into a deep sleep.
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Author's Notes: Okay, I'm really lacking in this story so far. I have an idea in which direction it will go, but I need subplots, plot twists, action! Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself… But anyway, what I'm saying is that ideas and constructive criticism are always welcome… in fact encouraged. So get to that signin'!