The woman nodded. She'd brought Denzel with her, since he knew the boy in passing. Even though Denzel was a few years Rennan's senior, he was friends with a few of the boy's friends.
Reno wacthed the car drive away through the window, and wanted one thing more than anything in the world, to get good and loaded, but what good would that do when court time came?
Rude, as if reading his lover's mind, walked slowly up behind him, a pair of rocks glasses and a fifth of scotch in his hands.
"Thanks yo. ..Gods..feel like halfa my world just rode away in that car."
Rude just nodded, the chilled bottle cold against his too warm hands. He poured them both a double, then set the bottle back down on the little endtable by the couch that had yet to be put back in order from the little boy's overnight.
Reno took a good look around the condo, seeing the mess the boy had left, and though he'd been in and out like a breeze, his stay had caused indellible changes in his father's heart. He took three gulps off the shot, draining it.
Rude raised an eyebrow and just poured Reno another shot. The redhead needed a little oblivion, if just for that day.
"'swierd, never thought it'd hurt..." he just sighed, downing the second as well, until the phone rang. "Ms Berry, hello, are we a go?"
"We have a date for the preliminary," she replied, her voice sharp over the phone. "Be at the courthouse at 9:00 am SHARP, Tuesday, next week. I will meet with you again, at my office, this Friday and again the Monday before"
"Yes ma'am. . .I'll have anything else I can find between now an' then that might help with me." When he hung up, he set the glass down. "gotta ttake the truck over to the site, between the mission and the mess with Rennan. .it never got done." he sounded sharp again. "plus more intelligence gathering. I'm gonnas tear the bitch apart."
Rude nodded, finishing his first shot. Whatever Reno needed to do, within reason, he was behind the redhead entirely. That's what husbands are supposed to do, right?
Reno picked up the keys to the truck, passing them to his partner, then picked up his laptop, going through whatever records he could find.
Rude knew, somehow, that he was going to hear it about being late with the truck. The rebuilding wasn't something the President took lightly.
Reno knew it too, though in this case, it might not be so bad, after all, he had been pretty sick when they'd come back with it, and had lost more than a half a day, then the mess with Rennan.
Rude just went through his usual pre-drive check of anything larger than a car. The last thing he wanted to do was get all the way here, then have the brakes go out or something.
Which would be just their luck, but would Reno speak such a thing aloud? Hell no, his life was cursed enough as it was, thank you very much.
Seeing that everything was in order, Rude climbed into the truck, then started it, waiting for Reno to enter as well.
Reno stepped into the passenger seat, still rifliing through the intraweb for everything he could find on Trish.
Rude drove silently, not wanting to disturb Reno, and realizing just how much you had to pay attention in that town to the traffic. Midgar's traffic had been bad, but never as bad as that
Reno as he peered up when they arrived felt his eyes widen...there, among the workers, was a VERY familiar dark haired head. .."Fuck no. ..look who's receiving orders at the site for the construction firm we're using. .."
Rude had to squint to see just who Reno was talking about. Stupid sunlight shining right through his sunglasses. That was why he always preferred the expensive ones to the el cheapo brands. However, with Reno for your partner, el cheapo seemed to have less of an impact on the wallet when they got destroyed.
As soon as the truck stopped Reno had folded up his laptop and marched out to Reeve. "Hey, Reeve. ..were you aware you hired someone who beats kids?"
Reeve looked over at the beginning of Reno's words, but frowned by the end of them. "Reno, Rude," he said in greeting. "I believe you've lost me before we've even started."
Rude just nodded in greeting back to Reeve, waiting to see if he'd have to pull Reno off his baby's mama or if he was just going to get to move the truck to wherever it needed to be.
"THIS woman. .." He gestures to Trish "has been hitting her kid. ..who also happens ta be mine. ..ain't that right, Trish, Dear?"
"Fuck off, Reno," Trish replied ever so elequently. "Before I have to file a fucking restraining order on you."
"Oh, I haven't hit you, not a damn thing the courts would do. ..besides, I got so much on you, I'm gonna get to laugh in your fuckin' face next week. ..count yourself lucky I'm doin' it the right way insteada just makin' you disappear."
"Go ahead. Lay a hand on me," Trish taunted, stepping towards Reno threateningly. "You'll never fucking see your son again." She was standing directly in front of him then, before she tossed out, offhandedly, "Not that I'm entirely sure he's yours..."
"My name's on the birth certificate, not only that, he looks exactly like I did at five, don't try that on me. .but no. .I'm not gonna hit you, no matter how bad I wanna. ..no, beating on someone weaker and smalller is your department, not mine."
"What better than to put a Turk's name on the birth certificate? Can't get 250 gil a week from someone hung like a horse..." She wasn't going to back down. She wasn't going to lose. Not if she had anything to say about it. "And what was that about beating on those weaker and smaller than you? I'm sure your HUSBAND," she spat that word out like a terrible taste, "knows all about that."
"which you won't have to use, Trish. ..'sall gone bye bye.. .besides...he's trying to change. .you aren't. ..and never will. ..see you in court, Trish." with that he walked over to Rude, leaning against him, giving Trish a very taunting grin before saying. "it's really too bad you can't touch a man without turning him gay."
Trish's laugh was harsh. "There are things even the dear President ShinRa can't do. When will you realize that?" She sauntered up to Rude, pursing her lips. "It's too bad you took this nice piece off the market," she said, trailing a manicured nail along Rude's jaw. "I hear he's hung and knows all the ways to make a girl scream..." She looked at Rude. "When you're ready for something tight, warm and wet, call me, big guy." With that, she sauntered away.
Rude just blinked. He felt... dirty. And embarassed. Who would've said anything about his -- ahem -- size.
Reno was simply steamed. ..extremely steamed. .when he yells after her "At least he doesn't hit people who can''t hit back, bitch!" before he strides over to Reeve. "Here are the keys, and the receiving papers. ..where's the boss?"
A single bright red nail attached to a certain finger lifted, and that was her only response.
Reeve's smile was rather forced, and everyone could tell how little the man was sleeping since heading up the WRO. "Our benefactor has sent an agent in his place. I wasn't going to question why he couldn't be here, what with Tseng being the agent sent."
"Oh Great. ..can't even chew us out in person."
Tseng merely melted out of the shadows of the building with a lofted brow. "Yes, you two are rather late. ..though in this case, it is understandable."
Rude lifted an eyebrow. If that was all the scolding they were going to get... Tseng must've had another mission for them. Otherwise, he was certain there should have been more...
"I take it that is the esteemed Ms Kendrick?"
"Oh,, you mean the straight out bitch?"
Tseng chuckled a bit "And yes, I do. ..we have discovered.. .a few other things about her which may make this court battle rather ir relevant. ..some things she has posession of that the President would like back. ..by any means necessary."
Rude frowned. There it was. The mission. Not only that, but he knew Reno would be taking it personally.
Reeve bowed, then backed away from the group of Turks. "As facinating as it is, I'm afraid I have much to do. Gentlemen." With a nod, he turned and went back to overseeing his people.
"You will be sitting this one out, Reno. ..I know how personally you'd take this, and I have no wish to jeapordize your chances of regaining custody of your son should this assignment go sour and killing her become a neccessity...now what she has in her posession is the hard drive from the old President's computer which has many company secrets on it, some of which could prove quite damaging to our reputation. .including the fact that Jack Shinra was financially supporting Don Corneo's operations. That could be damaging to us as a company, and to you as well, Reno, in this coming case. Rude and I will be going on this assignment."
Only Rude's eyes showed his shock. He couldn't remember the last time he partnered with Tseng on a mission. Ever since Veld had decided he and Reno worked perfectly together, they'd always done missions together. And once Tseng took Veld's place...
Reno nodded, he knew as well as Tseng did what would happen if Reno was find anywhere NEAR this assignment if it went sour. "Yes sitr."
"When do we leave, sir?" Rude asked. He wasn't going to mention that he wasn't sure how good of an idea it was for HIM to be there in the event things went SNAFU. He was, after all, married to the redhead.
"25 minutes. ..I was going to take Elena, but was not so sure that would be smart, either."
"Yes, sir," Rude said, glancing over at Reno in hopes of gauging his partner's reaction to the recent string of events.
"And as for your involvemnt should it go bad. .. it's a lot easier to cover up your involvement than his. ..you don't have as much tyo gain by her death as he would"
Reno appeared to be thinking more than anythng else, his face held resolve, he knew Tseng was right."
Rude nodded his agreement. "Details?" he asked, wondering just how the mission was going to go down.
"We will meet her at her home, she is about to go off-shift, and attempt to obtain the drive from her. ..you will be in disguised with a wig and contacts to hide your identity as much as possible. She may still recognize you, but you are a lot easier to hide than Reno."
A wig. Rude hated wigs. And contacts. He hated those too. He just wasn't too keen on touching his eyes, but he could do it. And for once, Rude was happy he put all his piercings in that day. Usually he just did the ears, but he had the all the holes in his ears filled, and his lower piercing.
Tseng gave that tiny-half grin. "It was Ms Lockhart that informed us of Trish's poseesion of it. Apparantly there is more reason for her keeping the boy away from Reno than just sheer cold-heartedness and the covering up of her abuse."
Rude raised an eyebrow, waiting for Tseng to continue.
"He had knowledge of her posession of said intel, and threatened to tell his father because 'He is a Turk and will make sure you can't hurt anyone.' She has an almost insane desire for revenge against those whom she feels ruined her life."
How did Reno...? "The child," Rude said softly.
Tseng nodded "He was to go undercover to try to gain more information on her father, as he was a purported terrorist, it was his first intelligence assignment. ..he was young and fairly impressionable then. She subverted him by basically seducing him, being 4 years older than him it was easy for her to do. .he got the intel and discovered we were wrong, but by then, the damage had been done. "
Rude turned to Reno. "I didn't know."
Reno shrugs. "It was how I ended up getting the mission completed. didn't come outta it unscatched, either" He lifted up his left sleeve, there was a scar running from wrist to elbow. "She slashed me up pretty good."
Rude turned back to Tseng. "And I'm supposed to be doing pretty much the same thing?" he asked.
"I'd not ask you to seduce the woman, that will be. .. my job." His face held a distasteful expression. "You are to be my lookout"
"Once I have her distracted, you are to do a search for the drive."
Rude nodded once, then glanced at his watch. "It's time," he said plainly.
Tseng led him to the car they would use, stepping in.
Reno turned to one of the workers, "I hope this doesn't blow up in everyone's faces."
Rude paused, nodding once to Reno before he slid into the car.
Tseng assisted Rude into his disguise when they reached the house. "There you are, keep a watch out."
The glue that held the short, curly hair on his head was already making his scalp itch. "Am I coming with you, or coming in the back?" he asked. He'd done missions like that with Tseng before, and he knew that sometimes, the older man didn't give all the details he was thinking.
"Watch outside the bedroom window, as soon as you see she is sufficiently diverted, enter through the back and obtain the mission objective."
Rude grunted and nodded once, tapping his brand new pack of cigarettes on the dash.
Tseng stepped to the door, it had been discovered she had a taste for Wutain men, "Madam Tequile's escort, ma'am. .I will be your companion for the night."
Trish looked around behind him, then frowned. "Who's that?" she asked, pointing to the tall man who exited the car this guy drove up in, lit a cigarette, then walked over to the driver's side and got back in.
"My ride, and bodyguard, as you well know it is standard procedure for companions from Madam Tequile to be guarded, especially in edge where many of us have been accosted."
"Uh huh," she said absently, squinting to try and see the other man more clearly. "He just going to sit out there the whole time? The other bodyguards were a little more... enthusiastic about being invited in."
"He's not overly eager, ma'am, he has a family, and his wife is not too happy with him already." he strides in, those eyes seem to sparkle with mischief, damn, Tseng was really laying it on thick.
"Hmph," Trish replied, closing the door behind this wonderfully exotic man. "So... what's your name?"
"Shion." It was customary for the first names only to be given, so she wouldn't ask, he knew this. He was dressed in a traditional kimono of black with burgundy leaves falling along the sides, an autumnal pattern, his hair done geisha style.
"Well, Shion," Trish said, stalking around him like she was eyeing up livestock prior to purchase. "Do you have any... specialties?" The man was attractive, that was certain, but if he couldn't perform... well... she'd have to see if she could con that bodyguard of his inside.
"light bondage, a bit of knifeplay...I know some women who are into that. ..as well as the best mouth you will find in her employ."
Trish, who had come to the door wearing only her red terrycloth robe, dropped the garment to the floor. She walked naked over to her couch, sat on it and smiled at this Shion. "Show me."
He quirked a brow. ..kneeling between her, his lips sketching the skin of her legs.
Rude, on the other hand, had finished his third cigarette when he figured it was time to see if Trish was sufficiently distracted. He slinked towards the house, keeping a watchful eye on the windows and doors of her house, as well as her neighbors houses. He caught a glance in the window and saw Tseng settled between the girl's knees and knew she was, in fact, sufficiently distracted. Rude made his way carefully towards the back door, taking out the small bundle of lock picking tools from inside his coat pocket.
Tseng inwardly was rather disgusted with what he was doing, but the mission was the mission, and this was for not only a good friend, but for the good of his husband's company as well.
A few quick twists and turns of the tumblers and Rude was inside the back door. He paused, listening for the sounds of Tseng and Trish, before he moved silently from the kitchen towards the dining room. He could only guess where that hard drive was, but he would put his faith on either the living room, which was occupied by the pair at the moment, her bedroom, or the study. He hoped Tseng would keep her incoherent long enough for him to at least finish the bedroom sweep before the pair decided to take their affections in that direction.
Tseng moved from her legs to well. ..other spots, trying to keep from throwing up as he did, even though he acted enthusiastic enough..he gave Rude a silent gesture toward the bedroom with his eyes, as if to say check there first.
Rude silently shut the door behind him, looking around the dark room as he did so. Now, if he were a psychopathic woman with a taste for revenge, where would he put the hard drive that would destroy her baby's daddy?
"Mmm..." Trish muttered, opening her eyes and locking them on this Shion's lovely ones. "What do you say we take this into a more appropriate place?"
He nodded, lifting her into his arms then suddenly it hit him, the same thought ..he mouthed to Rude "Rennan's room."
Rude, who had opened the door and stood along the hallway wall, nodded, sliding into the study so they could go past him. The child's room was on the other side of the house.
"Don't talk much, do you?" Trish asked, rubbing herself against the man holding her suggestively.
"not much need for words in my profession, miss"
"When that mouth can be put to so much better use?" she asked, a slight giggle in her voice.
Rude waited until Tseng had, wisely, shut the door to the bedroom before moving from the shadows of the study. He moved quickly and quietly through the house, ending up in the child's room. He looked around for something, anything out of place... There. The shoebox almost completely hidden under the bed. He pulled it out, opened it, and... jackpot.
Tseng, as soon as he noted Rude had the objective did something he knew would send her into orgasm and then likely blackout so he could get out. ..two fingers in just the right spot inside. ..
Rude slid himself from the house, shoebox tucked under his arm. As soon as he hit the porch, he stopped just long enough to light a cigarette, look around, and get back into the car.
Tseng as the woman blacked out beneath his fingers exited the house behind him. "I hope to never EVER have to do that again in my entire life."
Rude chuckled, putting the car into gear and driving away.
Tseng rinsed his mouth with some mouthwash he had on hand, spitting it out of the car window in order to eliminate the woman's taste from his mouth.
Rude raised an eyebrow and chuckled again. He was secretly glad it was Tseng and not him. True, he'd probably been a little less nauseous about it, what with being with more women than with men in his life, but with her closeness to Reno, he wasn't sure he could've been trusted. But, all that didn't matter. They had the hard drive and everything was good. Except... "Get this off my head, please, sir."
Tseng nodded, using the solution which would dissolve the glue, freeing it from the disguise.
Rude smiled. Finally, his head could breathe. He didn't know how he handled having actual hair on his head when he was a kid. However, the way the glue pulled, he could tell he'd need to shave his head again soon.
Tseng picked up his phone, caling Rufus. "Mission completed sir."
"Good work, Tseng," Rufus said, his tone indicating just how appreciative he was of his lover. "And Rude?" he asked.
"Both of us are unharmed sir, unless you count th etaste in my mouth. ..she is unharmed and trussed up like a prize buck, waiting on the authorities."
"Taste, Tseng?" Rufus asked. He really didn't have to ask, he knew, but still...
"I had to employ. .less than pleasent methods of distraction"
"Were you not already the highest paid of my loyal Turks, I would give you a raise, Tseng," Rufus said with a laugh, then his tone dropped into a sultry purr. "I do, however, have a different sort of raise, if you're interested..."
"Always sir...now. .as long as none of her relatives choose to sue for custody, this case should be mostly cut and dry for Reno, should it not?"
Rufus' dismayed sigh echoed over the line. "Unfortunately, I was only able to bury Rude's most recent assault charge. Seems Mr. Miller wasn't as buyable as I originally thought."
"He would ruin another man's life, one he barely knows, over this? I guess I simply do not understand some people."
"According to the man I sent there, Mr. Miller appears to still hold a flame for our dear Rudolph," Rufus replied. "And Mr. Miller mentioned that he would do anything to get him back." Rufus paused, then added, "And were he to mysteriously disappear, it could be overly suspicious."
Tseng sighed. "And he doesn't care for Reno because Reno succeeded where he failed. ..in getting Rude to cease his violent ways and become what Josh wanted for himself in the first place. Though of course the fact that it happened 10 years ago could play in our favor, as could the fact that Rude has attended counseling since then. ..and that there have been no incidents since that time."
"Exactly," Rufus replied. "Now, rendezvous with Reno and return to our current base of operations. I was a debriefing and some alone time within the hour."
"Yes sir."
"Sir?" Rude asked, glancing away from the road for a moment to look at Tseng.
"Josh could not be bought. ..he wants you back, and will use any means he can to acheive it. . .even ruining Reno's chances of ever seeing his son again."
Rude just sighed and shook his head. Josh was the obsessive type, which was another reason he probably stayed with the boy longer than he should have.
"now, if we could somehow prove he was not mentally fit his testimony would not mean very much."
"Easy," Rude replied. He didn't know a shrink out there that would call Josh totally sane. Sure, part of it was Rude's fault, but if that part of it could be avoided.
"Then we have Reno's attorney request a psych profile prior to him testifying. .and that hurdle will be cleared."
Rude nodded. He sincerely hoped it would be that easy.
"I doubt that one's sanity as well."he jerked a thumb back toward Trish's house.
Rude snorted and laughed. He pulled up to the building they had left from to see Reeve standing there between Reno and Trish's current fucktoy.
"She fucking attacked me!"
"You're trying to take her fucking kid away from her!" The man screamed back.
"He's mine, too, bastard, and she's BEATING him!"
"Then why haven't you tried to see him in the past five years? I've only been there two, but in those two you didn't even try to fucking call! What the fuck kind of father are you"
"Because she would have destroyed not only my life, but my boss's life if I had called! If it had come out then, his father would have KILLED him! even if we weren't anymore! She held that shit over my head to keep him away from me"
"I was beaten the first 11 years of my life. . I'll be DAMNED if my son is going to suffer like I did!"
"I can see where the brat gets his temper from!" Came the man's response. "And what the fuck kind of father can some assassin be? Answer that!"
"Sure as fuck better than your damn girlfriend is, I don't hit kids"
"Gentlmen, cease this useless bickering. ..you sir, are defending a demon, whether you realize it or not. That woman was bent on destroying everything we have tried to rebuild here, simply because we did our job of protecting our interests, and mayhap even hundreds of lives. ..her father was treated fairly while in our custody, and released when it was discovered we had the wrong man." Tseng held up the hard drive they had gotten from Trish's home while saying this.
"Who the fuck cares about that?" The man snorted. "All I care about is this piece of shit wants to take away my girlfriend's kid just because he's got some kind of homo grudge against her!"
"He has no grudge, except a desire to protect his child. ...it came from the child's very own mouth."
Suddenly, one would see a little redhaired boy clutching Tifa's hand. "Papa! I wanna go to papa! Let go let go!"
Rude glanced over and GROANED. Why, oh why, did that woman have to wear such low cut tops with what she had... on top.
Rennan suddenly ripped free of Tiifa's grasp, flinging his arms around Reno's legs. "I don't wanna go back to mama. ..mama's mean. ..she always hits me. .. she doesn't want people to know about her, and what she does!"
"Rennan!" Tifa exclaimed, jogging over to the men standing there.
Rude's eyes were fixed on the way Tifa's upper body moved while she ran. What? He was a man... and it's only human to look.
"Kid doesn't know what he's talking about," Trish's man of the moment tossed in. "Confuses discipline with abuse."
Reno lifted up the shirt to show the tiny scar where his shoulder had been dislocated numerous times, as well as the mottled bruises that had turned a sickly yellow. "You call THIS discipline? You got a pretty sick mind."
"Spare the rod..." The man tossed back.
Reno stormed over to him now, but kept his tone even."You do NOT use that shit with me. ..you use it in fronta Rufus you're liable to get shot. There are so many better ways of disciplining a child than to beat them black and blue...if you want to win this case, I suggest you use them. .. by the way. ..your girlfriend is currently in jail. ..under suspicion of espionage."
"Fuck this shit," the man said, turning and walking away. He was just fucking that Trish bitch anyway. He would only stick up for her so far.
Reno trembled in fury, but he picked up his son, reassuring him gently.
"Papa?" Rennan asked innocently. "What does 'fuck this shit' mean?"
"Means he's not gonna do anything else with this whole mess. ..your mama's on her own. by the way, those are grown up words, kiddo."
"But I wanna be a grown up just like you!" Rennan whined.
"someday, Rennan, but for now enjoy being a kid."
The little redhead just pouted.
"He's got quite the mouth on him, you know," Tifa said with a small smile. "And he's too cute. Makes it hard to tell him 'no' sometimes..."
Reno chuckled "I'm sure he does, he is MY son you know."
"Never would've guessed," Tifa laughed, then turned to Rude. "Are you okay with this?" she asked quietly, trying to make sure Rennan didn't hear them.
Rude nodded once. "I'm... getting use to it. I think. Slowly."
Tifa answered him with a smile. "Good... because, you know, being the foster parent, I get the pleasure," and pleasure was said with a roll to her eyes, "of testifying on his mental and emotional state. And I couldn't give an honest recommendation of you two if I knew you weren't for it."
"You mean it, Tifa? You're going to bat for us?"
"My professional opinion?" She asked. "You two need to work some things out." Tifa paused. "However, you've never really been given a chance with him, and what little time you've had, you've done good by him. I can't honestly testify against you." She paused again, a tiny, almost weary smile on her face. "Besides, I can't take another one without some help"
Reno set Rennan down and literally THREW his arms around the buxom woman "Thanks, Tifa, really.. .you have NO idea how much this means."
"I'm not doing it for you," she said with a smile. "I'm doing it because I think it's what's best for him." She nodded at Rennan, who had inched closer to Rude.
"Papa Rude, you gonna be happy?" the child's innocent green eyes pinned those behind the sunglasses.
Rude had to think for a moment, but he grunted and nodded, opening the hand he held at his side for the child to take.
Rennan smiled. holding his arms out for a hug, before saying "Then I'm gonna be happy too."
Rude smiled as the boy latched onto his legs. He placed his hands on Rennan's shoulders, a kind of makeshift hug. He could do this. He could. And Tifa was right; the boy was obnoxiously cute.
"I gotsta go back with Tifa for now.. ." he looked a little sad. "I wanna come home. ..soon."
"I know," Rude said, patting the mop of red hair.
Reno kissed the top of his head before they left.
Tifa took Rennan's offered hand, waved to the two men, and they were off.
He called Berry. "I think we might want to move this up, if possible. ..we have. ..new developemennts."
"Oh? What new developments?" The woman asked. She was not very ecstatic about being interrupted from her late lunch.
Reno relayed to her everything he'd discovered...including the boyfriend who had been complicitous in the abuse...the fact that she hired male prostitutes on the weekends. ..all of it.
"Still doesn't make this open and shut," Ms. Berry said around a mouth full of salad.
"I just want this over with as little trauma as possible for my kid. ..He's also made it clear where he wants ta be..." He sighed, this whole thing had him on edge.
"How old is the child again?" she asked.
"5. .maybe not pree-teen, but certainly old enough to knoe being hit from being treated decent."
"The courts usually don't take the testimony of a child before the age of 12," Ms. Berry stated, again around a bite of salad. "However, the child's wishes will be heard."
Reno sighed. "Not that it's likely to matter soon. ..she's been arrested for espionage. .if she's convicted she'll be in for a LONG time."
"There is no such thing as a sure thing," Ms. Berry said quietly, then bluntly stated. "Now, if there is nothing more..."
"nothin'. ..thanks .." he hung up. ..watching where Rennan had gone. ..he just wanted this over.
Rude just turned to Tseng. "Further instructions, sir?" he asked. He wanted to know if he could take the rest of the day off with Reno, or if his presense was required elsewhere.
"You may go home now, just take care, be cautious. ..there were reports of a redhead with a severe limp and two attendants in town from one of the local shop owners."
Rude frowned. There was no reason for Josh to show up, and he was the only redhead who could possibly be considered to have a limp that he knew.
"I think I know why he's here. ..he tries anything. ..he's dead."
Rude sighed. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. "Reno," he said, tone warning his partner that it was his thing to deal with, not Reno's.
"He's not gonna touch you, that's final, Rude. ..not gonna happen. ..you an' I both know what he'd do if he thought he'd get away with it. .. he's as fucked in the head as Trish."
"No, he's not going to touch me, and I'm not going to see him," Rude's tone was short. "But if we happen to be in the same place as him, I'm not going to be rude."
Reno just sighed, striding back toward their condo. "Shit, if it ain't my past, it's yours. ..he might be here ta testify, but I doubt it. ..stupid freak. ..why the HELL do we always end up with the fuckin' stalkers?"
Rude shrugged, then made the snarky comment that crossed his mind before his mental filter had time to suppress it. "Guess that's what happens when you're great in bed." He paused, even going so far as to stop walking as his face grew hot.
Reno chuckled. "Yeah. ..guess so."
"Should probably stay in tonight, just to not tempt fate," Rude said as they rounded the corner of their building.
"Yeah. . .you're probably right, fate hates our guts as it is without tempting her."
When they reached the building, Rude held the door open for Reno, and his eyes caught a brief flash of similarly red hair from the corner of his eye, but as soon as he tried to focus on it, it was gone. He kept his mouth shut, certain Reno hadn't seen it, considering the way he was facing. It was also probably in his best interest to avoid riling the redhead up.
Reno headed up, his gut suddenly clenching in a "something's wrong" way. ..but he didn't speak up. . .Rude would likely think he was nuts.
They took the stairs at Rude's insistence. What better way to suppliment the gym routine?
Reno suddenly spotted in front of their door...someone who looked just like him, causing him to gasp in shock. "You. .." just as a gun was pressed to the side of his head..
"I..." Josh said carefully. "... am claiming what is mine."
Rude frowned, but showed no other emotion regarding the situation. His head was racing, trying to think of the best way to make sure Reno's brains didn't end up splattered on the wall. There were some things even a Life spell couldn't cure...
"Bastard.. ." he too was trying to think. .the fear sweat filling Josh's nostrils. ..when for the third time in his partnership his limit break was triggered. ..rage and terror. .." You. ..arenot going to take away from me what I spent 6 fucking years building. .." his hands settled on Joshe's arms. ..the electricity seeping through them. ..though the electricity caused his muscles to constrict. ..pulling the trigger, he ducked just in time to keep from having his brains splattered agaisnt the wall, but he was deafened by the report of the gun. ..and it had been fairly low-power, so he knew it wouldn't be long before the fucker got up again.
Rude could only look down as a blossom of red spread over his white shirt.
Josh, fighting off the electric current running through him, cried and reached out towards Rude. "Rudy! No!"
"Rude, oh shit. ..oh, shit. ..stay away from him, just stay the fuck away from him"
Rude coughed once, a trail of crimson escaping the corner of his mouth. His eyes were wide, visable even behind the ever present sunglasses. He took a shuddering breath before he collapsed backwards.
Josh cried out again, scrambling across the floor, grabbing and pulling on Reno's legs in an effort to get closer to Rude faster. "Rudy! Oh my god, Rudy! Rudy"
Reno was there with his phone, calling the paramedics. "Come on, hang on, aibou. ..their on the way. .please. ."
Rude's eyes were quickly getting glassy, even as he struggled to breath, the sound wet as he tried.
"Get away from him!" Josh shouted, finding his terror's strength as he managed to muster enough force to push Reno down the hallway. He leaned over Rude, fumbling in his off white jacket for the potion he always kept with him. He tilted the liquid into Rude's mouth, letting him drink a few gulps before he tore open the man's shirt to pour the rest of it directly over the wound.
Reno stalked back "Thanks. ..but you. ..stay out of my life. ..stay out of his,. .."He decked Josh, giving him enough of a shock to knock his ass out. .."by the way, there's a reason not to heal someone like that. .. when you do, and the bullet's still in, you can fucking hurt them worse." he holds onto Rude until the paramedics get there, lifting him onto the stretcher.
Rude tried, he really did, to keep his eyes open, but the pain was just too much. Even that wash of potion didn't help dull it. He turned his head and coughed again, spitting out more blood.