Rude sighed and tried to focus his attention on the manual Tseng had thrust into his hands at the start of the day. Reno was goofing around, as usual, and he made it very hard to concentrate on doing his work. Tseng wanted them to memorize the manuals within the week and he had stopped all physical training until they had learned it.
Reno kept distracting him though. Reno would fidget with his tie, sleep on the book and snore loudly, or try to talk to him while he was reading and it was starting to get on his nerves. Every now and again Gareth or Tseng would come into the small classroom-like office and force him to concentrate by either shoving his head into the book or picking his head up off it. Rude wondered where the rest of the Turks were and figured they were probably on missions or doing the enormous amount of paperwork that Jareth often complained to him about.
Rude tried to ignore the snores coming from his left as he took notes. He found the book to be extremely dull and hard to concentrate on and he didn't blame Reno for falling asleep but he wished that he wouldn't snore so loudly. The door banged open after a few moments and Reno's snores stopped. He didn't lift his head though and Rude knew he was feigning sleep for his own amusement. For some reason the red-head enjoyed the reactions he got from Tseng even though Rude would rather read the book than have Tseng yell at him. To each his own.
Tseng gripped Reno's ponytail and yanked his head up and over the back of the chair so that he was staring at the ceiling.
"Hey boss-man." Reno grinned sleepily into the face of his angry superior.
"Since you seem to know the book well enough to sleep would you mind telling me what to do in a hostage situation?" Tseng pulled Reno's hair harder.
Reno screwed up his eyes in concentration, "In a hostage situation a Turk must put the life of his Priority first and ignore all hostages. In the event that the Turk's Priority is the hostage that Turk must do everything possible to rescue the Priority and eliminate the threat to said Priority. If a Turk has two Priorities and one is captured that Turk must wait for back-up before rescuing the hostage Priority. If no back-up is available the Turk must protect the Priority of greatest importance to the Shinra company. If the most important Priority is the hostage the Turk will abandon the less important Priority in a safe location and rescue the other Priority. In the event that-" Tseng cut him off.
"I don't need the whole damn book recited at me Reno." Tseng let go of his hair with an angry scowl.
"You asked." Reno let his head fall forward and straightened his hair.
"What am I going to do with you Reno? You can't stay awake for more than five minutes yet you've somehow managed to memorize the book." Tseng rubbed his forehead wearily.
"Put some damn pictures in this book yo! It's fuckin boring!" Reno yawned pointedly.
Rude shook his head and looked back at his book. Of course Reno would be able to recite entire pages from the book. Rude had been reading the book under his breath for hours now.
"Just stay awake rookie." Tseng huffed and walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
"Easy ta say, hard ta do." Reno grinned and folded his arms over the desk, letting his head rest on them. "How's it comin' Rude?" Rude didn't answer. "I know, boring as hell right?" Rude didn't respond. "So when do you think Tseng will pull that stick outta his ass?" Rude snorted and Reno let out a chuckle.
"Talking to yourself Reno?" Gareth grinned as he pushed the door open.
"Talkin' ta Rude." Reno lifted his head.
"He isn't answering though." Gareth raised an eyebrow.
"He doesn't have too. I know what he's thinkin'. I can read his mind like a book." Reno tapped his head knowingly.
"Would you say he's accurate when he's 'reading your mind'?" Rude looked up from his book.
"Most of the time." He rolled his eyes at the wink Reno sent him. "He hasn't figured out that I want some peace and quiet yet though."
"I was quiet for hours yo!" Reno answered indignantly.
"You were snoring." Rude turned a page.
"Shit yo! I can't help that!" Reno sat up and turned to face Rude. Rude snorted and Reno scowled, "It's not funny! I can't help it!" Rude smiled, "Shut up!" Reno frowned.
"He didn't say anything." Gareth watched the exchange with confusion.
"He doesn't have to. I can read his mind remember?" Reno tapped his head with a grin. Rude snorted, "Hush you!"
Gareth chuckled, "That is seriously the weirdest thing ever Reno. He doesn't say a word yet you've got your panties in a twist about what you think he meant."
"Leave my panties outta this!" Reno frowned and faced Gareth.
Gareth grinned and leaned on Reno's desk. "But I like your panties Reno."
Reno blushed and Rude had to choke back a laugh. Reno rounded on him, "Put a sock in it Rude!"
Gareth chuckled again, "See what I'm saying? He didn't say a damn word."
"Didn't have to, mind reading powers, remember?" Reno grinned.
"If you're so good at reading minds what am I thinking right now?" Gareth grinned and leaned closer to Reno.
Reno blushed heavily and cleared his throat, "Don't know. You aren't Rude."
"So it only works on Rude?" Reno nodded vigorously, "Good thing. You think you're blushing now, I can only imagine how red you'd turn if you could read my pervy thoughts."
Reno turned, if possible, even redder and turned a page in his book without reading it.
"Tseng says I need to keep an eye on you, make sure you do some work." Gareth seated himself on the edge of Reno's desk. "Think you can stay awake for me?"
"Maybe." Reno grinned cheekily.
Gareth leaned towards Reno until they were only inches away. "What if I make a deal with you?"
"What kinda deal?" Reno gulped.
"You stay awake and read that book and I'll talk to Tseng about him making you wear that tie." Gareth reached over and adjusted Reno's tie.
Reno cleared his throat, "Deal."
Gareth laughed and got off the desk and seated himself between the two, propping his feet on Reno's desk. "Tseng was right. I can manipulate you."
Reno scowled and Rude didn't bother to hold back his laughter.
Reno unlocked his apartment with shaking fingers. He was once again skipping out on the Friday night drinking trip that the Turks went on and he regretted it. He hadn't had a drink in weeks and it was starting to drive him crazy. He threw open his window and lit up a cigarette, the text from the manual running through his head like a bad song.
He started when he heard a knock at the door. He stubbed his cigarette out on the window sill and slammed it shut before going to open the door.
"Hey red." Gareth leaned against his doorframe.
"I thought you went out with everyone else?" Reno held the door open hesitantly.
"Nope. You eat yet?" Gareth twirled his keys in his hand.
"No." Reno raised an eyebrow.
Gareth grinned, "Well lets get goin' then!" Gareth grabbed Reno by the tie and pulled him out of the apartment.
"Whoa easy Gareth!" Reno followed obediently, shutting the door behind himself.
"Sorry red, just excited." Gareth smiled sheepishly and let go of Reno's tie instead throwing an arm around his shoulders.
"Why? We're just going out to eat." Reno shoved a hand in his pocket.
"Yes but we're going out to eat together red." Gareth wiggled his eyebrows at Reno.
Reno rolled his eyes, "Is it really that exciting?"
"Yes it is." Gareth grinned. "I talked to Tseng about the tie."
"And?" Reno allowed his hopes to rise.
"He said you can stop wearing the tie when the flying lessons stop." Gareth pulled Reno closer. "Personally red I like the tie. I can use it to my advantage."
"I don't like the tie." Reno frowned good-naturedly.
Gareth let Reno go and pushed him into the elevator. "You like my advantage and you know it."
Author's Note: I know this is really really short and I'm sorry! *dodges fruit* I'll make the next one longer I promise! Maybe I can use the temptation for a longer chapter as incentive for reviews? :3