Tengoko: I'm so sorry for not updating sooner. It's just been so busy lately. I'll try not to keep you guys waiting next time. Well, the reviews have been so encouraging. I love them all. Keep them coming. Whenever I'm in need of motivation, I just read your reviews and I get a boost. Well, I'll shut up now. Enjoy the chapter.
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Rated M for language and romance
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Chapter 8: Justus Marquis

Elena sat behind her desk, perusing through the papers in the manila folder that Tseng had just delivered to her. Her next mission. Her first mission with Justus Marquis. A man, whom Elena had noticed, was much too handsome for his own good. She blushed just thinking about him, and then felt guilty. She didn't know why. It's not like she actually had anything with Reno. And she was quite sure that he wasn't halting his sexual exploits just because they'd recently taken to passionate kissing.

That thought upset her. Again, the reason was a mystery. Shaking her head and closing her folder, she stood up and slid it into her duffel bag. She was all set to go to Great Glacier with Justus, just as soon as he arrived. It turned out that a few wanted criminals had turned the icy environment into their base. And, since Reno and Rude were all set to go on their own mission, only Justus and Elena could handle the problem.

Setting the bag on her desk, she grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair and slid it on, unaware that her office door had just opened. She didn't know that she wasn't alone until two hands grabbed her shoulders brusquely and somebody shouted, "BOO!"

"Holy shit!" she screamed, nearly losing her balance. Actually, the only reason she didn't topple to the ground was because two strong hands grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against their body. She heard him chuckle. "Damn you, Reno!" she shouted.

"Sorry, babe. I couldn't resist," he laughed. He secured his grip around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Are you getting ready to leave?"

"Yes," she said, trying to regain her composer, but finding it difficult to do so in Reno's arms. "And, why the bleeding hell are you still here? I thought you and Rude…"

"We're about to go," he said, and strangely, his voice sounded somewhere between a sigh and a whisper. "Just got through equipping myself, actually. That's why I'm here. Saw your light on and figured that you might want some company. But, it seems you've got business to take care of. So, where are you going?"

"Great Glacier," she said, moving out of his grip and grabbing her bag. She didn't expect Reno to take it from her and hoist it over his own shoulder. "What are you…?"

"What? Didn't expect me to do something so chivalrous?" He smiled and stepped closer to her, setting it back on the desk. "When do you leave?"

"Just as soon as Justus gets here," she answered, all too aware that Reno had backed her into her own desk.

"Are we…Argusin free?" he asked, his eyebrows rising.

Elena dredged up her most insulted face and slapped him on his shoulder. "What kind of stupid question is that? I told you I wouldn't do that anymore, didn't I? And that should be the end of it." She hoped he couldn't see passed her lie. She'd taken three just an hour ago.

"Don't get all mad, Laney. I was just asking." His arms went back around her and pulled her close to him. "And I'm glad to hear it. You don't need that shit to be a good Turk."

"Of course not. I just need a rookie to make me look better." Reno laughed.

"Hey, that's what made me look good," he said, squeezing her a bit harder. "And hell, you made me look damn good!" Reno smiled at her scandalized face before leaning down a bit to capture her mouth with his. Elena put her arms around him and sighed into the kiss.

And then, out of nowhere, they heard a gasp and then somebody clear their throat. Reno groaned angrily before looking up at the open doorway. "Can't you see we're having a moment here, you dumb ass?"

Justus looked utterly horrified. Reno was the last person on the planet that he wanted to cross…again. "I'm sorry," he said, trying to sound as if he weren't frightened at all. "I didn't realize that you weren't alone, Elena. And, furthermore, had I known that you and your boyfriend…"

"We aren't together," Reno said, sounding insulted.

"You'd better not be," came another voice. A very familiar voice. Justus turned around and gasped again. Tall as he was, he'd probably never met another man who was taller than him. Yet, Rude didn't even bother to spare him a glance. Instead, he stared over his sunglasses at Reno. "You know Tseng's rule about interoffice dating."

"If I really wanted to date Laney, you think that'd stop me?"

"Good point," Rude smiled.

Elena was mortified. Did everybody have to know that she and Reno were…whatever it was that they were. Not dating, but more than friends. Did that make them friends with benefits? No. That definitely wasn't it. He'd made it perfectly clear that he wouldn't let it get that far.

"Well, we don't have time to waste, Reno. You know Tseng and Rufus expect results as soon as possible, and we can't very well do that if we stay here, now can we?"

"Quite right," he said, rolling his eyes. "I would hate to piss off the president."

"Not to mention our boss," Justus muttered. Too loud. Reno's cold eyes glared at him, and, for the first time, Justus didn't cower under his gaze. In fact, he looked almost defiant. As if he was silently saying he was done being intimidated.

"Nobody asked you, damned rookie!"

"Reno," Elena started, trying to turn his attention back to her.

"Gods, aren't you a veritable jack off?" Justus said drolly. "Tseng warned me about you, but I'd thought he was just over-exaggerating. It seems everybody's got you figured out just perfectly. An authentic asshole."

Before Reno had the chance to reply, Justus was suddenly hoisted off the ground and slammed into the wall with a loud bang. The force of the impact caused some of the pictures on Elena's wall to crash to the floor. But, nobody paid any mind to that right now. All eyes were on Rude.

"You watch your mouth," he warned. "Reno is your superior, and as it stands, the most authoritative person in this room. Or, has Tseng failed to mention that Reno is Second in Command?"

"No," Justus said, surprising Rude by being able to break his grip and ripping his hands off of him. "He did mention that, as a matter of fact. How he became Second in Command is beyond me. He's rude, uncouth, and totally unprofessional."

They all heard him cock his gun. Now Reno commanded the attention as he aimed at Justus. "If your really that curious, I'll be happy to give you a demonstration as to how I achieved this position."

It seemed Justus had finally reverted back to the terrified rookie. Not another word was spoken. At least, not until Elena put a calming hand on Reno's arm to lower the gun. Reno didn't look away from Justus, even as he replaced his gun in his holster.

"How tedious this is getting," Elena said. "Honestly, boys, if we're going to play together, we all must learn how to get along."

"Bite your tongue, Laney," Rude said, still surprised at the strength Justus had inadvertently displayed. "He'll never fit in here."

"Oh stop that," she reproached, though she was smiling playfully. "He'll find his place here given time. Trust me, Justus. They were like this to me too when I first joined. And now, Rude protects me as though I were his little sister, and Reno…well…"

"Makes out with you in your office," he said bitterly.

Reno reached for his gun again, but Elena grabbed his elbow to stop him. "Well, you get the point," she laughed.

"What the hell is so damned funny?" Reno asked, his eyes coming back to hers.

"This ridiculous battle of the manhoods is amusing me. And, it has gotten us nowhere. We all have places to be, if I'm not mistaken. So, why don't you and Rude just hug me good-bye, wish us luck, and we'll see you later?"

"She's getting damned lippy," Rude said, though he couldn't hide his smirk as he approached her. "Too lippy if you ask me."

"Nobody asked you," she said as his arms came around her briefly.

"Be careful," Reno said as he took her into his embrace. "And keep a close eye on him. He's likely to screw up." That was the last thing he said before his lips grazed her cheek and then, he turned away from her and was gone.

She stared at the doorway for a moment before Justus' presence caught her attention again. He was staring at her with inquisitiveness, his blonde brow cocked. "What?" she asked, grabbing her bag.

"Is he really the best you can do?"

"I take offense to that, first of all. Reno is a good man. You just have to get to know him and realize that he does have that mean exterior. It took me years to see what was underneath."

"I'll have to take your word on that," he said, following her out into the hall and waiting as she locked the door to her office. "But still…you seem like such a sweet girl. The type of girl who dates to find a husband and settle down. Reno doesn't seem the type to happily oblige."

"Oh he's not," she agreed. "And I'm definitely not planning on reforming him. We've already discussed this, as if it were any of your business. But, as he said before, we aren't dating, and we probably won't ever date."

Justus smiled. "Well, that's good news," he said, stepping into the elevator.

It took a moment for his words to hit her. And when they did, she was confused. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, looking up at him. And then, he flashed her a smile. A blinding, heartwarming smile. Gods, how had she not noticed how unquestionably handsome he was?

Sure, the women around the office were all abuzz about the new Turk. How tall and stunning, dashing and debonair. His hair was a honey brown, falling in messy curls around his ears. His eyes were lime green. His skin was tanned, probably since he had lived in Costa Del Sol before moving to Midgar. And the man's body. Gods. Was there anything more perfect. Broad shoulders, a wide chest, a narrow waist and long legs.

"Are you cold, Elena?" he asked roguishly. "You're trembling."

"No," she said without thinking. But then, she realized the error in that. Now he knew she was trembling because of him.

He leaned closer to her and smiled. "To answer your question, Laney, may I call you Laney?" She nodded. "Well- Laney, I'm glad that nothing will come of this closeness between you and Reno. Frankly, I don't think I could have dealt with the jealousy."

"Jealousy? Justus, you can't possibly like me. You barely know me, and you're much to young for me."

"Oh, I assure you, Laney. I do like you. You are the only person here who stands up for me and talks to me. It started off as appreciation, and then, as we continued to talk, it grew. And…how old do you think I am?"

"Twenty-two?" she asked.

Suddenly he laughed. Such a rich and hearty laugh. "Who told you I was twenty-two? Elena, I'm twenty-eight. I think that makes me older than you by at least three years."

"Justus…"

"You don't have to say anything now, Elena. I know that you and Reno are enjoying whatever it is that you have. But, just know that when you get tired of the aimless relationship and meaningless kisses, I'll be here, ready to treat you right. And you deserve to be treated right."

"Justus," Elena breathed. "Do me a favor. Let's not talk about this until after the mission, alright?"

She didn't think she could handle it anymore anyway. The butterflies in her stomach had gone from a few to at least a thousand. She felt as though she were going to collapse to the ground. Never in her life had somebody confessed infatuation quite like that. And she'd be lying if she said she didn't find him attractive or sweet either. And, it wasn't as if she were committed to Reno. But still, just looking at Justus, just imagining what it'd be like to kiss him right there in the elevator, made her feel as if she were stabbing Reno in the back.