Reno fumbled with his tie, still unable to knot it properly even though Gareth, Tseng, and Rude had been trying to teach him for almost a month. He gave up and wrapped it around his head, securing it in a tight bow. He felt hands pull the tie off his head and heard Gareth click his tongue disapprovingly, "You still can't tie it red?"

Reno shook his head as Gareth wrapped his tie around his neck and knotted it deftly, "Do I have to wear it?"

"Tseng said you had to didn't he?" Gareth grinned and leaned down, capturing half sleeping lips in his.

Reno slumped forward and rested his head on Gareth's shoulder, "Too tired. Don wanna go."

Gareth chuckled and rubbed Reno's back, "You gotta go, you only have a few lessons left."

"Don care. Too tired." Reno whined pathetically as he closed his eyes.

Gareth laughed, "Think you're gonna be able to walk?"

"Maybe." Reno laced his fingers behind Gareth's neck, "If I say no will ya carry me?"

Gareth bent down and gave Reno a tender kiss, "Of course not."

Reno sighed, "Didn't think so."

Gareth chuckled and gave Reno one last kiss before pushing him towards the door, "Go take your lesson. I'll be waiting for you when you're done."

Reno walked slowly out of the apartment, "We need to start going to bed at a decent hour."

"We did go to bed at a decent hour," Gareth winked at him, "We just didn't sleep." Reno rolled his eyes and walked out of the apartment.

Reno felt very tender as he walked, staggering slightly, his tired brain only barely functioning. He made it to the roof later than usual. Tseng was waiting by the chopper, impatience evident on his normally unreadable face. "Where have you been?"

"Sorry." Reno mumbled, "Had a late night." Reno stared to climb into the helicopter but Tseng stopped him.

"Did you go drinking?" Tseng glared at him suspiciously.

"No." Reno shook his head.

"Why can't you walk straight then?" Tseng pursed his lips, convinced that Reno was lying.

"I don't think you want to know." Reno chuckled, "I'm sober though I promise. Want me to say my alphabet backwards or something?" Reno took a breath and screwed up his eyes in concentration, "Z-Y-X-W-V-U-T-S-R-Q-P-"

Tseng slapped a hand over his mouth, "Not necessary. I just need a reason."

Reno pulled Tseng's hand off his mouth, "You're not gonna like the reason."

"Why not?" Tseng's eyes flashed with anger and impatience.

"It's pretty dirty." Reno grinned lewdly.

"Don't think I haven't heard stories like that before." Tseng snorted, amused in spite of himself.

Reno sniggered, "I can't walk straight because Gareth pounded me into the mattress so hard I think my legs might have dislocated."

Tseng facepalmed and let Reno get in the helicopter, "Sorry I asked."

"Do you want details Tsengy-poo? I can tell ya all about it!" Reno climbed into the chopper with an impish grin.

"Please refrain." Tseng climbed into the helicopter behind Reno.

"You sure?" Reno grinned, "I don't mind fillin' ya in."

"Just start the damn helicopter." Tseng shook his head with a chuckle.

"Sure thing boss." Reno grinned and did what he was told.

"Good lesson today eh Tseng?" Reno grinned as they climbed out of the chopper.

"For the most part." Tseng admitted, "I would like you to refrain from yelling at the birds though."

"They were in my way!" Reno frowned. "What was I supposed to do?"

"They're birds Reno. They can't understand you. They don't know what, 'get the fuck outta the way!' means." Tseng sneered.

"Not my fault they don't speak English." Reno stretched lazily.

Tseng shook his head, "You only have a few lessons left."

"I know, I'm excited!" Reno practically skipped to the roof's exit. "First thing I'm gonna do is light my tie on fire and drop it out the side of the chopper!"

Tseng sighed and shook his head, "I figured that was your plan. Do you want to keep it so you can learn something else?"

"Like what?" Reno raised an eyebrow and opened the door and starting down the stairwell.

"I could teach you how to drive." Tseng offered with a hopeful tone.

"I thought you didn't like teaching me?" Reno sniggered.

"Those lessons have saved me from several of Reeve's stupid meetings. They also keep Veld off my case about how much work I'm doing." Tseng shrugged.

Reno stopped walking, "How much work are you- " Tseng stumbled into his back. They both yelled as they began to tumble down the stairs, a haphazard tangle of falling limbs. Reno felt himself crush Tseng beneath him several times before they finally came to a crashing halt on the landing, their heads cracking on the cold cement. Tseng tried to get off of Reno quickly but slumped forward with a groan, holding his head in pain. Reno groaned in pain as lights flashed before his eyes.

"What the hell is going on!?" Reno turned his head toward the sound to see Gareth standing at the bottom of the stairs, mouth agape.

"Fell..." Reno groaned and scooted himself out from under Tseng who sat crouched, holding his head.

"Fell? You two looked like you were about five seconds away from having sex on the stairs!" Gareth stomped up the stairs and rounded on Tseng, "What did I tell you about touching him?"

"Not what it looks like." Reno groaned and held his head as his vision swam. His whole body hurt and he could feel several bruises rising on his arms and legs.

"Sure it isn't." Gareth growled, "What the hell were you doing then?"

"Fell down the stairs." Reno crouched forward with a groan, head in his hands.

"Why were you close enough to land like that then?" Gareth stood in front of Reno, hands on his hips.

"Were walking down the stairs," Reno mumbled, "I stopped and he ran into me."

Gareth looked at him suspiciously, "I'll believe the falling, I don't believe that Tseng is clumsy enough to knock you both down the stairs."

Reno lifted his head, "You don't trust me?" He looked over at Tseng who had been in the same position since they landed, "Tseng you okay?"

"Nngggh..." was Tseng's pained reply.

Reno crawled over and lifted Tseng's head. He let him go with a frightened gasp, "Holy shit he's bleeding!"

"What?" Gareth crouched down next to Tseng and lifted his head by his pony-tail.

"Come on we gotta get him help!" Reno grabbed Tseng by the shoulders and started to heave him upright, collapsing with a yell when his own head throbbed painfully. "Help me Gareth!" He tried to pick Tseng up again.

"Fine." Gareth frowned and heaved Tseng roughly to his feet. "We're not done talking about this."

"Fine, whatever," Reno leaned against the wall and held his head, "Lets just get to a fuckin' doctor okay?" Gareth huffed and started to drag a bleeding Tseng down the stairs, Reno following slowly in their wake.

"Why don't you believe me?" Reno asked as a nurse wrapped a bandage around Tseng's head.

"Because I don't." Gareth scowled.

"I don't cheat." Reno scowled as a doctor shined a light in his eyes.

The doctor lowered his light, "You should be fine. You have a concussion and you'll be a little bruised but you should be okay. I'll do a few tests to make sure you don't have any broken bones and then you can go home."

"Thanks." Reno rubbed his head as the doctor started jotting notes on a clipboard, "How's Tseng?"

"He'll be fine. It's just a scratch and a concussion. We'll send him in for tests too." The doctor smiled kindly and walked away.

Gareth rounded on him, "Why do you care so much about what happens to Tseng hmmm?"

"He's my boss." Reno rubbed his throbbing head and glared at Gareth, "I can't believe you think I'd cheat on you with him. I told you I don't like him like that."

"How do I know those flight lessons aren't more than that?" Gareth crossed his arms and glared back at Reno. "How do I know you two aren't get it on in the chopper?"

Reno glared at Gareth angrily, "You honestly think I'd do that? If I was all hot for Tseng then why would I complain about going to the lesson this morning? If I remember correctly it was your name I was screaming last night, not his."

Gareth huffed and turned away, "I don't want you hanging around him."

"Why the hell are you so convinced that I'd cheat on you?" Reno frowned, hands balling into fists at his sides.

Gareth sighed, "I don't want to lose you."

"You're doin' a good job pushing me away right now." Reno scowled and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"I'm sorry red but you gotta know what that looked like right? I walk up thinking I'll surprise you after your lesson and I see Tseng laying on top of you and you're both groaning. What the hell am I supposed to think?" Gareth sat on the exam table beside Reno.

Reno leaned on him, squinching his eyes shut as his head throbbed, "I get why ya were pissed at first but why do ya keep yellin' about it? I told ya what happened."

"I'm sorry." Gareth apologized again, wrapping an arm around Reno's shoulders.

"Ya have to be able ta trust me." Reno buried his head in Gareth's shoulder.

"I do trust you." Gareth insisted, "I don't trust him." He glared over his shoulder at Tseng.

"Aren't you the one who told me I have to trust him?" Reno sat up, pulling himself out of Gareth's embrace.

"Yeah but-" Gareth stammered.

"But nothing. Don't be a hypocrite! It's not like he's gonna do anything." Reno glared at Gareth, "If you don't trust me you can piss off!"

"Don't be mad!" Gareth put his hands up in defense, "It's not you I don't trust it's him!"

"Just go." Reno crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at the wall.

"Oh come on red!" Gareth begged, grabbing Reno by the shoulders, "I said I'm sorry!"

"I don't believe you." Reno pushed Gareth away, "Just go for awhile alright? Check back in when you're not bein' a total asshole."

Gareth scowled, "Fine, I will." He pecked Reno on the cheek and left, glaring daggers at Tseng the entire time.

Tseng cleared his throat, "Sorry to stir up trouble."

"It's not your fault he's being a paranoid ass." Reno growled. "How's your head?"

"Better." Tseng fingered the bandage around his head carefully, "Yours?"

"It's fine." Reno lied as his head throbbed painfully.

Tseng looked at him in amused disbelief, "Then why are they taking you in for tests?"

Reno snorted, grabbing his head as it throbbed, "Shut up! It's just a headache."

Tseng laughed, "Headache? I don't know about you but I feel like someone's smashing hammers on the inside of my skull."

"Accurate description." Reno laughed and rubbed his forehead.

Author's Note: I know it seems like a lot of mindless chatter but it's setting the story up for some drama junk so be patient, there is actually some important junk in here that will be important later ;)