"Go on Rude!" "Hit him again!" "Yeah, right on the button!" "Fuck him up Ruuuude, Fuck him up!"
Rude merely grunted as he blocked another couple of jabs with his arms, stepping back slightly at the force of the blows. Reno was cheering him on from outside the ring with unbridled enthusiasm, despite the fact that Rude and his opponent were only sparring. The man across from him, who threw a left hook that almost landed on Rude's chin, was one of Zangan's best students. A native of Icicle Inn, and a pale, dark haired man, he was slightly shorter and thinner than Rude but he packed a punch. Rude could see, as a glove-covered fist jabbed into his left shoulder, why Zangan rated him.
However, Rude was holding his own. Seeing an opening, he switched his weight to his right foot and threw a short, sharp, right-left-right combination. The first two hits were blocked, but the last one found its way through to connect with the man's headguard. The man was stalled for a second, and Rude went to throw a big right hook…
"…that's all for now gentlemen!" Rude pulled his punch, as Zangan, who had been watching silently from outside the ring, spoke out. The old trainer slid his walking stick into the ring, before pulling himself up by the bottom rope, and stepping slowly into the ring. Both Rude and his opponent stood relaxed, whilst Reno complained about the abrupt stoppage on the outside, to which no one listened.
"He's good coach. Blocked most of my hits and gave me a few." Rude's opponent, Wade, spoke up. "Not many can do that straight up." Zangan acknowledged his pupil, but stood still and silent for a moment, looking at Rude.
The Turk was almost unrecognisable from normal. Instead of his trademark blue suit and shades, he was instead wearing long, navy shorts, a white vest top and boxing gloves, as well as a black head guard which Reno had taken the piss out of him for. His eyes were uncovered, so he had the difficult decision of where to look whilst Zangan stared him down.
"…you know, I have a problem with the ShinRa." He finally acknowledged, taking his eyes from Rude and staring up at the ceiling, his eyes looking at something Rude couldn't see.
"Hey, join the club pal. We aren't exactly showered with roses everywhere we go…" Reno piped up, as he too entered the ring, jumping nimbly over the top rope. "We sometimes get showered with other things though…"
"…I'm sorry." Rude said, quietly, ignoring his partner. "May I ask why?" The question was genuinely curious.
"I was in Nibelheim when it burned. I imagine you know about that." Rude nodded, and Reno swore softly under his breath as that awful affair was brought up once more, seemingly significant to so many they met. "I was training a young girl there. She was wounded by that psycho freak Sephiroth. I managed to get her medical health and bring her to Midgar, but ShinRa took everything from her. Directly or indirectly."
Rude and Reno exchanged glances. They had a feeling they knew who Zangan was referring to, but they kept quiet for now. They didn't want to inform the old man that they may have repeatedly fought one of his pupils. And that Rude may have at some point had a crush on her.
"We're sorry for that. We can't pretend we didn't do some bad things when we worked with ShinRa." Rude bowed his head to the man, tactfully omitting they still worked somewhat for Rufus Shinra, on a somewhat part-time basis. "We were Turks after all. Those days are behind us now. We're repentant."
"Mostly." Rude glared at his partner, who chuckled. Zangan remained silent. Wade's eyes however widened.
"You mean I just fought a Turk?!" He whistled softly. "Damn, I feel a hell of a lot better that I took a beating now!"
"Nah you shouldn't, Rude was holding back." Reno grinned widely. "He's not used to fighting with rules. Or with gloves. Or with headguards. Or not to knock someone out. He's adjusting."
"…" That heavy silence came from the other three men. Reno's grin faltered a little. After a moment, however, Zangan seemed to come to some sort of conclusion in his mind, and turned back to Rude.
"Well then I'll take your word for it. I'll teach you how to fight for the ring, master Rude. Then we'll see." The old man turned on his heel, white hair flowing, and exited the ring, in a more spritely fashion than you would expect. The other three men stood there without reacting for a second, before Rude allowed himself a small smile, and Wade loudly challenged Reno to a fight.
