Elena feels like Tseng doesn't care about her that much, that's when Reno comes in to save the day or get killed.

Disclaimer: None of the characters or anything that revolves around Final Fantasy 7 has ever belonged to me but will always be credited by Square-Enix.

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Chapter Twelve – White lies breaks his heart

She watched him ever so calmly trying to figure out the meaning of his body language. She was leaning against the wall, no that was exaggerating; but she should have. He was scribbling away notes for Rufus, and he couldn't take a break to say one syllable to her. Ever since she entered the room he didn't even seem to look up and give her a smile; nothing, nada, zip, zap, zero.

It slightly enraged her for it was one of those days she hoped she would be pampered. She wasn't being a drama queen, but a smile did take someone a long way in her list. She watched him boring her eyes into him, some days she would have loved to just watch him sit there and act serious and turn her on. But not today, he had crossed the line.

There she was, sitting on the black leather couch. Arms and legs crossed with her eyes blankly on him while her lips were pushed together. So there was something, the truth might have been she used her anger to really hide her true feelings; sadness.

Why didn't he give her attention? He always did give more respect to Gun, her sister and Aeris, the dumb flower girl. Was he with her from pity? Was the whole relationship from over the fact that he pitied her? No, that couldn't be it. She knew Tseng very well, he was a gentleman of many words; he just had very strong problems on bringing his emoticons out as she once learnt.

But maybe that was made her fall for him, the silent gentleman. The kind, lovely and attractive gentleman to be more exact. But couldn't he be more romantic without doing just because he was a gentleman? No, she was being vain now. She took a glance towards him, he made her melt so dearly; but she just wished he would show that he felt the same way towards her.

Finally she got the courage and chose to speak; she had to get an answer. "Tseng?" She asked hoarsely as she held a lopsided smile and prayed he wouldn't surprise her by ignoring her.

She was relieved to see him look up and nod as if proving she had his attention. He dropped the pen for a moment and waited for her to speak.

"Tseng, do you love me?" She asked hoping he wouldn't make her regret saying it as she sat there waiting ever so calmly praying she wouldn't start shaking.

There was a silence for a moment; she worried deeply until she noticed him speak.

"Yes, why do you ask?" He asked formally not showing any signs of romantic gestures much to her dismay.

"Random statement" she stated softly.

"Very well, tell me if there's anything else" he said before going back to his work.

Well, at least she had the fact that he loved her. That was a good start. But wait what about that time those guys were hitting on her? Of course she showed no interest to them but why hadn't Tseng done anything and in the end Reno had to tell them to leave?

Ooh her brain was hurting, did Tseng feel that it wasn't worth fighting for her? No that couldn't be, he after all said he loved her. But what if he said it out of being pitiful to her? No! She had to stop thinking like this, she was being childish. She needed a drink…

"I'm going go get some water, want me to get you some coffee?" She asked as she stood up while smoothing her jacket and waited.

"That would be lovely" he said with his first smile which was more of a half frown before continuing writing.

"Alright" she said calmly before making her way outside with a sigh and making her way outside. Her bottle of water lay on a table while she poured some of the steaming liquid into a mug. She felt more as an intern to him then anything; no he didn't intend to make her feel that way he was just tired from all the work given to him that day.

So she was outside, she might as well perk her ears and see what she catches with the passer bys as she made the coffee for it seemed like half more was needed to be done thanks to her red head comrade who finished it all before she came. So she went on with a bit of eaves dropping.

"Sweet, you got the new model? I heard it wasn't out yet! Does the engine really purr like they advertise it to be?" Alright that was an unentertaining subject, she waited for something new to be heard; she finally caught something.

"You slept with him? Shit, she's going to kill you…" Hmm drama, it did interest her to go over and talk to those two girls who held that conversation but then again she had heard a lot for the pass days, maybe someone much more interesting could come along.

Rude seemed to be with someone else instead of his partner, oh it was the real new intern that she heard about. He seemed talkative, dear me could Reno be challenged?

She allowed the inside joke of the red head's most talkative reputation threatened bring out a gentle giggle before she waited for them to come close by her and pass so she could catch something.

"So who was the black haired fellow in that office?"

"….Tseng, first in command"

"Ah, nice slut he has in there; just didn't know he swung that way"

"………….."

Her spoon fell from the grasp of her fingers as she stared at shock at the boat painting in front of her, did she hear right? Tseng had a cow in his office? No that couldn't be right! She had to see this for herself as she left the coffee mug and made her way. She honestly could have screamed when she reached his office; no she didn't enter, but his curtains were sealed tight as if hiding something that was enough to be said.

"So what was I?" She sniffed angrily as if Tseng could hear as she stood there shaking, wanting to open the door. But the voice of someone calling her stopped her.

"What?" She called out angrily as she heard silence after that, shaking her head she made her way to the room that occupied the obvious answer of the voice; Reno.

Closing the door behind her, before of course allowing the red head to explain himself, she began burbling.

"Reno, you want to know something?" She snapped at him.

"………." For the first time of course the flippant figure had nothing to say.

"Men suck!" She cried as she sat down on a chair and clasped her hands on her face. Then followed of course an awkward silence before Reno spoke.

"Laney?" He asked sheepishly as she looked up angrily at him for ruining the moment, he let out a fake cough and nodded at his sleeve being stuck at a cupboard door.

"You're pathetic" she muttered as she tried to open the drawer but couldn't, she had chosen to wait for him to explain.

"If it was unlocked I could have freed myself, the key is missing, Blondie!" He whined with puppy eyes as she shook her.

Finally finding an extra copy to unlock the drawer, the red head hugged his once prisoner sleeve as he let out a grin. "Thanks Laney!" He chirped happily like a child.

She watched him with disbelief, the sudden yet random thought came to her; how did many girls find the foolish soul so attractive? He was dumb, messy, foolish, flippant, rude and clumsy. Surely that wasn't what all those females found a turn on, and then what was it?

"Laney, stop checking me out or I'll Tseng" the red head teased expected a slap soon as he sat on his seat and began popping a cigar in his mouth while trying to find the lighter while avoiding the 'No Smoking' sign specially stuck for him on his wall.

"Reno, please" she said with a soft sigh which left the red head confused why she didn't react the usual violent way. "It's Tseng" she said softly, "As I said men suck"

"Interesting, but none of my business" he said arrogantly as he finally found his lighter but ended up with an empty one and began searching for a new one.

"Come on Reno, you also must have been in this situation. When someone you cared about doesn't care the same way" she mentioned as she left a red head now listening to her. He looked out of his office for a moment then looked back.

"I'm listening, but please keep all the corny stuff to yourself" he told her with a smirk.

"Do you want me dead, women!" Reno yelled as after an hour of discussion Elena came up with an idea on how to make things better. She had asked him if he could come with her and insult Tseng for being a traitor. Of course Reno disagreed strongly.

"Alright how about this; you be my back up man. You're on no one's side, you just stand there while I talk to Tseng, if you're there it won't be personal; and if it isn't personal it won't end up in a bad note" she said now with the puppy eyes as she clasped her hands together willing to clasp at his leg also.

"Fine" he said with a sigh before adding something, "But that bribe on buying me and Rude a free dinner is still open"

There they stood now, Reno against the wall while Elena stood by him waiting for the right time; which was when Tseng came out of his office.

"So why don't we just go in?"

"Because it will be easier to talk without starting to argue" Elena said as her heart leaped when she noticed the door knob turn from the other side. She looked at Reno, was he in for a surprise. Then she looked at Tseng who was coming out, she needed to do this before he saw her so it would seem like she had done it just so he could see it.

"Let's go-" Reno said before stopping himself when Elena turned around and suddenly pushed her lips against his.

"What the hell" he said against her lips trying to push back as if Tseng came out and saw the scene he was dead.

"Go with it" she said against his and soon enough sensed a figure behind her, it was Tseng. He hurt her, she would do the same.

But what she couldn't see was the flowers he held in his hand which he hid from her all day and closed the curtains so she wouldn't see them when he brought them out. Sadly people got the wrong impression when they saw the secretary come in his office a few seconds after he closed the curtains and brought the flowers out to hand him some papers, only.

He could have punched Reno as he stood there and watched them, but no; he just dropped the flowers at the ground and made his way back in the office. Locking the door behind him.

-TOBECONTINUED-

Authors Note; Next chapter involves the much awaited story of Vincent, Tifa & Cloud! )