When Tseng walked through the door of the bar, all he wanted was to get a drink and get out. But then he saw the despondent redhead at the counter, huddled around a bottle.
He couldn't resist.
Sliding into the seat next to his distressed associate, he smirked.
"I thought you had a date with Elena tonight."
Slowly, the man turned to face Tseng. His shirt was even more rumpled than usual, and his eyes were crimson, his face stained with dried tears.
He waited for a moment before carefully enunciating, "She called it off."
Tseng laughed mean-spiritedly. "What happened, did you piss her off?"
Reno glared. "Suddup. You're makin' me sober."
"What, did Elena finally dump your sorry ass?"
Suddenly, Tseng was shoved up against the wall, suspended a few inches off the floor. Reno's hand was clenched around his throat.
"Never," he hissed, his breath heavy with alcohol, but his voice somehow totally clear-headed, "Say her name to me again."
Then Tseng was on the ground again, and Reno's hand was hanging limply by his side.
"She will never love you." Tseng whispered spitefully.
And then Reno was gone.
The next time Tseng saw him, he would be lying on the hospital bed.