Rude sighed as he looked at the clock. Time to go.
He had been dreading this task since Reno had told him he would have to do it. The fighter always hated mourning women, but, Triss, well, he hated her being upset for another reason.
Triss had gotten close to all of the Turks in the past few months. As soon as they realized she was going to be a part of Reno's life for an indefinite, but decidedly long, period of time, they had begun to, very tentatively, accept her into their circle. And, Triss, being herself, had, almost immediately, become everyone's honorary little sister. (Some even joked that she should be their mascot.) So, no one was happy about Reno's mission, though they were all thankful it had been given to only Reno, so that Rude could see to Triss, even though any one of them would have taken care of the girl.
Rude sighed and drew himself up as he rounded the corner into Triss's new "office". He noticed how absorbed in her paperwork she was, and how she was very obviously ignoring her co-workers who were just as obviously gossiping about her.
Triss started and looked up at him when he softly called her name.
"Oh, is it time to go?"
The tall man nodded and she stood, snatching her things up and all but running to his side.
"C'mon, let's get you home," he said gently.