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25. Rod: Partner
Rod was aware of Legend behind him only when he spoke. That was … irritating in the extreme. So irritating that he refused to whirl in surprise, instead riveting his gaze to the opposite wall and clamping his arms in their sullen fold.
"How much do you know about Sureshot?"
"What?"
"Naifu," Legend qualified, as if that was what Rod had been referring to. "You're her partner, right?"
"Hmm."
"Is that a yes or a no?"
Rod finally turned and met Legend's good eye. Always unnerving how someone with no depth perception was still so good at finding his targets and bombing the shit out of them. "I know what I need to know."
"Which is?"
"What anyone needs to know about their partner: that I can trust her to watch my back and not let me get killed, so long as I do the same for her."
"Very clinical."
"Is there a point to this conversation?"
Legend shrugged. "Just wondering."
"You never 'just wonder'. What do you find so fascinating about my partner?" Rod narrowed his eyes. "You're not making her into another one of your conquests."
"Look who's coming over all protective-big-brother," Legend half-laughed.
Rod continued to squint suspiciously at him. Something had happened after Naifu was attacked – something with Legend, which neither of them would talk about. Naifu hadn't actually said anything, and hadn't acted out of character, considering what had happened to her, but Rod discovered he was more attuned to her behaviour than he'd thought. Something was up. She'd been subtly uneasy when Legend entered the room, in a way she wasn't when Kakutou also came in. Rod was almost inclined to think Legend had copped a feel while Naifu was unable to say no, but the idea wouldn't stick. Naifu wouldn't be uneasy, she would've kicked any groper's nuts right into his neck, fellow-Turk or not. Plus, Legend was a womaniser, but he wasn't that kind of guy. Nevertheless, tension hung between them like a cloud waiting to rain, and Rod didn't like it.
Legend shrugged again. "Your face will freeze like that if the wind changes."
"Asshole."
His smirk made Rod want to break things. Then it flickered ever so slightly. Somehow Rod wasn't surprised when he heard Naifu's voice behind him. Legend had seen her enter the room over Rod's own shoulder.
"What are you two numbskulls getting all macho about? All my oestrogen just curled up whimpering in the corner."
"You okay, Sureshot?"
"I'm gonna start charging money every time someone asks me that. I'm not the first Turk to get in a fight, you know."
Legend was going to get whiplash from all that shrugging. Rod shoved his hands in his pockets and ambled to the door, only to find his way blocked by Kakutou.
"They're ready for us."
"Joyous joy of joyousness," Naifu sighed. "A-recruiting we will go, a-recruiting will we go; high ho, the derry-oh, a-recruiting we will go."
"Your singing voice sucks, Sureshot."
"My tattered ego thanks you."
Rod watched the exchange, knowing there was more there than first appeared. He wondered why he couldn't figure out what they were really saying. Naifu was his partner.
"Hey, Naifu?"
She paused. "Yeah, Rod?" Her gaze was clear and unambiguous. Too clear. And nobody was that unambiguous. The rocks in clear water were often the sharpest when you stepped on them.
Rod shook his head. "Nothing. You're really okay?"
She rolled her eyes. "I got a clean bill of health, didn't I?"
"When you'd stopped yawning all the colours of the rainbow."
"Hey, I don't respond well to forced healings. It's not that unusual. Lots of people get jumpy stomachs. I remember you looking pretty green when you had your broken arm healed back in Midgar."
Rod didn't feel reassured.
Damn it, I have enough to worry about, without adding this kind of crap to the pile. I do not need my life to get any more complicated, he thought savagely, but still couldn't let go of his disquiet. The Costa del Sol didn't have Alejandro, but it was a lot less peaceful than he'd thought when relaxing in Legend's holistic swimming pool.