Title: When Rude Met Reno
Authoress: Vitalini
Rating: T
Summary: Its not easy being a Turk, but what does it take to become one? While Rude is discovering what it really means to be a Turk, Tseng finally thinks he's found a way to calm a certain redheaded devil causing havoc in the Turk department. Join Rude and many new faces as they come to face the reality that is ShinRa.
Warning: Violence and language if there is anything else I'll warn you about when it comes.
Disclaimer: I only own any original characters and the fic- obviously, apart from that I own naught
Author's note: The rest of the chapter! This is where it gets darker, you have been warned spooky music
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Making their way to one of the many training rooms proved more difficult than they'd thought, and they were soon walking in circles. Rude vaguely knew the way and after passing the same set of offices so many times that people were coming out to look at them, he finally took the lead. He struggled himself. but they made more progress and when he came to a familiar landmark, a rather large painting of their illustrious president, he knew where he was. After that, it took no time at all before they found what they were looking for.
The training room was packed, mainly with other rookies like themselves. There were a couple of seniors but they were training at the far end, slightly apart from the crowd of newbie Turks.
"Should we change?" Tabby asked, there were spare clothes to the side and judging that some of the people were wearing training gear that didn't quite fir them right, they weren't the only ones who'd forgotten to change before hand or bring something with them.
They split up to, and went into the designated changing rooms. They were quick. However, Rude was displeased to find the closest fit was a little too short. The next size up drowned him but this one was still ridiculously baggy.
"Think we'll find a space amongst this lot?" Jim asked, eyeing the crowd. There are some serious people here. He spotted Lithia and Robin in amongst them; they appeared to be taking on a slender dark haired man along with lanky very tall men. They weren't getting very far, the man's defence looked unbreakable, even Rude couldn't see any blind spots. He watched as the lanky man went flying, crashing into Robin s they'd tried a team attack, ouch.
"Oh no," John moaned hiding himself behind Rude's broad back. It wasn't difficult to spot the reason for his sudden retreat. Marko stood in the middle of the mat, facing off against a man similarly built like Trent only a little smaller. He recognised him as Doug and beside him was Jordo. Jordo was of average build and strength, but it was his tactical abilities that made him a formidable fighter. Although he often fought through Doug who had the muscle power to back up the moves, as Jordo defended the larger man's weaker spots. They were an efficient pair and Marko's closest friends. Marko was currently displaying his spectacular swordsmanship. Rude had to hand it to the jerk, he was a great fighter, and it was not a surprise that ShinRa had asked after him. They stood a moment watching Marko parry and lunge, he used the flat side of his blade but it was still scary to imagine the damage he'd cause if he wasn't holding back. Rude recalled the man slicing through the guards on their first mission together, he'd been less graceful then.
"Hey, Rude!"
They turned to see Trent beckoning them over. Without hesitation Rude went to see what the large man wanted.
"Yes?"
"You and your pals want to spar with us for a bit? Looks a bit hectic down that end." He indicated to his sparring partner as he said this. Rude assumed this must be Kyo, and he was on the thin side but he had defined muscles and as a martial artist Rude recognised his build was adapted for the Karate style of fighting, which the man had must have practiced since he was a child. Kyo swiped damp ginger clumps of hair from his eyes. Both were covered in sweat and panting heavily. It made Rude feel guilty being so fresh.
"Sure," he looked behind him, the others stood like a row of baby ducklings following their mother in his wake. They nodded, they couldn't really say no to the offer and it was nicer up this end anyway.
"Great!" Trent clamped them on the back, with a sweaty palm, "this is Kyo by the way and who are you?"
"I'm John and this is Tabby." Kyo nodded to each of them in turn, his face seriously eager to carry on; Rude liked him already.
After they'd stretched off while the seniors rested a bit, they took their positions, Tabby facing off against Rude and Jim against John. Tabby pulled out her simple staff as they circled each other. Suddenly she launched forward, twirling her weapon and going for a sidekick to his ribs, Rude managed to dodge. They moved around the limited space, dodging attacks as well as everyone else. It wasn't long before they sported some good sized bruises.
When Trent picked up his much lighter partner after deflecting a visious upper cut and accidentally threw him accidentally into Jim and John who were locked together as John tried desperately to disarm Jim, and then as a group they landed on Tabby as she was staggering to her feet, they decided to rest for a moment. Trent helped pull the squirming bodies apart, lifting Kyo off the rookies.
"Want to go again," Kyo asked, it hadn't even been five minutes but he was already on his feet. Rude noticed the determined look in his eyes and guessed he was someone that took any defeat seriously and had a furious desire to prove himself. Rude observed him curiously.
"I was thinking of going against one of the little ones next to see what they're made of," Trent said off hand taking a sip of his drink. Kyo's reaction was surprising to say the least. He completely freaked. Rude stared wide-eyed as his whole body bristled like an angry feline as he stared over at his larger partner who was taking care to ignore the ginger haired man.
"What the hell! You don't throw someone across a room and then run off to fight some rookies!" It may have been the light but rude could have sworn Kyo's pupils had slitted in his rage.
"Why not?"
Trent's laid-back reaction triggered a frustrated growl from the man but he appeared to be doing more to control his fury though his body was visibly shaking. Jim was edging away. "You have no honour or pride, do you?"
"Nope and in this business that doesn't even come into it. Street scum don't fight with honour or pride so neither do we, you've been a Turk long enough to realise that by now."
"So, doesn't mean we can't show a little mat etiquette while training."
"I bowed when I came on didn't I? Besides, if you practise it too much you get bad habits. I'm not bowing to some idiot that's got a gun pointed at me."
Kyo pulled a face at this. "It's not a bad habit," he muttered before turning to the rookies. "I'll take the gunslinger."
Reluctantly Jim got up and followed Kyo. Rude thought he'd be fine so long as he kept his distance, Kyo was fast but not that fast, if Jim could stay on his toes he'd wouldn't come off too bad. On the plus side, he was armed and though his ammunition had been replaces with pellets, they were still an effective deterrent. Those things hurt!
"So, little lady want to go against me?" Trent asked. John sniggered at the name since in this case Tabby already quite small looked minute in comparison to Trent. She bravely accepted, leaving Rude and John together.
"No holding back" John aid as they took their positions. Rude eyed the daggers in the man's hands, in the past that was all he'd had to watch out for but now John also had some martial arts under his belt, it wasn't going to be a simple case of just disarming him anymore.
They didn't even bother circling each other, John stepped in for a quick slash but Rude blocked it although he wasn't fast enough to grab John's wrist. Rude bided his time, blocking and parrying until an opening appeared. When it did, he kneed the small man in the gut, John's momentum working against him and he collapsed on the floor spluttering. Rude looked round to see Jim running for his life, Kyo yelling at him to "Get back here!" and Tabby, heroically though vanely, trying every possible move she could to take down Trent.
"Want to start again," John wheezed, starting to get up. Rude bent down to help him. He wasn't sure that was such a good idea, the combined force and John's weight, as he'd run head on into Rude's rising knee, couldn't have been a healthy combination. Rude had to admit John had improved immensely and he handled the daggers with such ease it was as if they were just extensions to himself. Telling John this brought a smile to his face but he still looked wistfully over at his brother who was now taking on the man who they'd seen with Lithia and Robin earlier. Marko moved with unhurried grace and looked very much in control but, unlike John, Rude could tell Marko had met his match. The other man wasn't going down anytime soon as he moved with Marko as if they were dancing, matching him move for move. The reason for Marko's purposeful control was not because he was the superior fighter but that his opponent went at the same speed he did. If Marko speeded up so would the other man and Marko with his heavier sword was at a disadvantage. John wasn't seeing this all he saw was his brother looking perhaps as he always had as the superior untouchable fighter he'd been at their village. Rude for once was happy he was an only child.
"Let's go." They managed three more rounds, Rude winning every time but there were many stinging scratches all over him by the end.
"Rest time." Trent called, enjoying being the commander of the group. Jim raced over, a black eye in the making but looking extremely satisfied, as did Kyo, when he returned. They were all red faced and sweaty now.
"So, who wants to go with me next?" To everyone's shock, John volunteered to fight Trent next. Jim smiled at Rude, meaning Tabby and Kyo were going to spar together.
Fighting Jim was like having a rest. He mainly had to dodge the pellets, keep moving and steadily work his way forward. Jim wasn't an idiot despite popular belief. He did not waste ammunition and had improved his aim considerably. Rude wasn't safe at any range, but that didn't mean he was in trouble. Far from it, Rude knew how to wait until an opportunity showed itself. They ended up dancing around each other for quite some time before Rude could work his way in to tackle Jim to the ground and use his weight and strength to pin Jim down.
When they looked at the clock next, everyone was surprised to see that it was six in the evening. Many people had moved on so it was virtually empty apart from a few senior Turks and themselves.
"Fancy calling it quits?" Trent asked as John tried to squirm out of a head lock. Kyo shrugged, blocking Tabby's attack instinctively. Rude was disappointed that he wasn't going to get to spar with the seniors but nodded along with Jim.
In the changing room, the seasoned Turks had nothing but praise for them and even expressed regret that they didn't get to pummel Rude as well. He was surprised that they'd found so much time to watch him, they made so many comments it was like they just sat and observed his fights the whole time yet they still had plenty to say to the others as well.
Leaving the changing rooms the group headed for the common room that they'd been in that morning.
"You have some nice moves Tabs," Trent told her fondly and she beamed but what he said next sent her blushing, "no wonder Lyons likes you so much."
John was going to have a field day with her when they were alone Rude could just see it.
"Still you could work on dodging and grip a bit more, it's too easy to disarm you though you improved even while I was fighting ya and you didn't run away," Kyo looked at Jim when he said the last part and Rude noticed the older man's hand automatically go up to his bruised eye.
"You'll need an ice pack for that." Tabby said, looking at it closer as she walked next to the gunslinger. Jim nodded; he wasn't going to run from any more fights any time soon.
As they opened the door to enter the lounging area, the Turk from this morning was just making her way out. Kyo called out to her as she passed them, "Hey, Ina! Seen Shino anywhere?"
"Shino? Yeah he's been helping his uncle with new weapon designs all day." she replied, walking backwards, "why were you looking for him?"
"We weren't, we just hadn't seen him that's all, and I suppose Hatoro is still away then." Trent yelled over their heads to her.
"Of course we don't all get to hang out with the new arrivals you know." She disappeared round the corner and they finally went to find seats.
"Can't believe Hatoro's hasn't come back yet, he'll hate to miss out on tomorrow's event." Kyo said to Trent as they took seats opposite each other on two couches' that had been placed around another table. Trent nodded but quickly brightened.
"He'll be back tomorrow morning you'll see."
"I wouldn't bet on it." Kyo took a banana from the fruit bowl.
"Not with your luck I wouldn't." Trent laughed as his friend threw the skin at him and missed.
"Looking forward to another day of sparring?" Kyo asked, in between swallowing some fruit and before taking another bite.
"Sure, can't think of any other way to kill time. Only problem with this event isn't it?" Trent cracked his neck and began moving his shoulder a bit, "Think we should take it easier, otherwise we'll be good for nothing."
"Not my fault, who threw who across the room?" Kyo replied, finishing his banana, "so have you got the betting tables ready, I think I know where my money's going."
"Yeah, I finished them last night. Some have already laid down bets but I didn't want to tell you since I know what your like."
"Oh, haha, you know this is where my luck outstrips yours, you just don't want to be out of pocket." Kyo glared at Trent who sighed, beaten. The rookies listened intently, they had a feeling something was happening tomorrow night and they were certain it'd involve them somehow.
"They're starting it early this time," Kyo carried on. Rude, being so observational, only noticed now that Kyo didn't button his collar up and he wasn't wearing a tie. He didn't looked scruffy as Red did, since his suit was more or less as neat as everyone else, he even tucked his shirt in.
"Got more to get through haven't they, not to mention the extra."
"Yeah. Ah well still can't believe Tseng picked us." Kyo yawned and snuggled into his seat.
"Don't knock it; Macti was furious when he wasn't chosen. Everyone thought he would be but we know why he wasn't." Trent examined an apple as he said this.
"Yeah, we wouldn't want a blood bath would we?" Kyo smiled to himself.
"You two talking about tomorrow?" Everyone looked up at the woman who was now leaning on the back of the couch over Kyo, a sheet of long golden hair falling over her shoulder. Rude noted her odd accent and couldn't tell where she'd come from, he'd never heard it before. "Kyo, you numbskull don't do go saying stuff like that in front of them!"
Before anyone could blink, Kyo had leapt up, fists balled as he stood one foot on the seat to stare the woman in the face, "what did you just call me?" He managed to get the words out between his gritted teeth. She smirked back, already in a similar position, with her arms folded and using her height to leer down at him, looking smug.
"You heard me, numbskull" The rookies stared as the two stared each other down, exchanging insult after insult, until finally Kyo jumped back, and sat down in front of Trent, rolling up his right sleeve. His partner rolled his eyes. The woman was already sitting opposite Kyo and had her own sleeve rolled up. They placed their elbows on the table and interlocked hands. At some invisible signal the arm wrestle began.
"I won't lose!"
"Whatever!"
Rude was surprised by the amount of effort both were putting into this rather sudden battle. Kyo seemed to be having a harder time but neither was making much progress, their arms shaking but not going anywhere, one-way or the other. The tension was so thick it could have been cut with a knife.
"Does this happen every time they meet?" Jim leaned over and asked Trent as he eyed the pair.
"No, they don't always arm wrestle."
"Ah"
After five minutes if proved to be stalemate. After ten minutes, the woman was gradually gaining ground. After 15 minutes, Kyo was fighting back to the centre. After Twenty minutes, he was failing gain. Once half an hour had passed Trent stood up and pulled them over to the left, the woman's hand on top. Both glared angrily at him, protesting indignantly.
"TRENT!"
He held his ground, "If you two would stop acting like babies-"
"I'm not acting like a baby!" Kyo was on his feet as fast as lightning, the woman stood up calmly and muttered something that caused the gingered Turk to huff stubbornly and march back to his seat.
"So, are these the ones from yours and Lyon's group?" she asked casually to the large man who nodded. "I hope they're good, there is some pretty tough one's in my group that'll give them a run for their money."
"Is that a warning?" Kyo asked from where he sat.
"No, I just don't want what happened last year to happen again, and let's not forget that incident from a couple of moths ago."
"Bloody awful that was." Trent swore.
"Bloody is correct." The three Turks paused in solemn silence for a moment. "Well I'd best be on my way, Ina will most probably be waiting."
"Hey Arisa!" Kyo called after her, "Take care."
"You to numbskull," she smiled playfully and left.
"What was that about?" John mouthed, they had sat forgotten for the time being and none liked what they'd learnt. Turks, betting and blood didn't sound good. Whatever it was they'd know all by tomorrow.
"So chickens," Rude gathered Trent was referring to them, "Anything exciting happen to you today apart from sparring with the big boys,"
"Erm, yes actually." Jim said keen to get the topic back onto something normal, "You remember that redhead that appeared on our first mission together."
"What about him?" Trent bunched his eyebrows. Rude hadn't expected such a serious reaction but blew it off that Trent was still caught up in the mood of the previous conversation.
"Looks like he upset an official today, what was her name again?"
"Scarlett," Kyo offered, "we heard about that to, she terrorised the whole apartment looking for him."
"Yes, he still managed to avoid her though. He was in that closet and she still couldn't find him even when she went in there!" John exclaimed, "I wonder how he did it."
"Most probably, hid on the ceiling, its really high in that closet so she most probably didn't look up high enough." Trent theorized, glancing at his watch he pulled a face, "is it me or is the time going too fast?"
Kyo just shrugged, he looked so settled as he slouched in the couch that Rude imagined he didn't plan on moving anywhere even though Trent was starting to get up again.
"Come on man! I haven't eaten anything except an apple all day, let's go and get something to eat. You guys want to come? It's getting close to nine so if you do, we'd better hurry."
Rude frowned; surely, it couldn't be that late already! He looked down at his own watch only to find it wasn't there. He began searching his pockets but it wasn't in them either.
"Lost something?" Tabby frowned as she watched him pat himself down looking for the missing accessory.
"My watch, I left it in the changing room." He grunted getting up.
"Rude leave it we can get it in the morning," Jim called after him as he started for the door. "They'll most probably be locked anyway."
"The training rooms don't get locked up; so long as you have your ID you can get in." Kyo said still nestled in his seat, "want us to wait for you?"
"No, you go on ahead I'm not that hungry."
"You sure?" Rude nodded in answer and walked out.
The corridor was considerably quieter though he could still hear the conversation behind the door. Kyo's loud voice was now protesting at being manhandled out of chair. He sped on, the faster he got to the changing rooms the better, he kind of knew where he was going now which was a bonus. He hoped he'd catch the others as they made there way down to the main entrance. Not really paying attention to his surroundings, he almost barrelled into someone coming round the corner. Thankfully, the man instinctively side stepped to avoid the collision and Rude stopped automatically to apologise.
"S-Sir," Rude blinked, he had to be Tseng of all people that he almost ran over. The second-in-command didn't respond. The rookie noted the stern expression on the Turks face and thought it best not to step round him to carry on his way.
"My apologies Rude," Tseng finally said looking up at the taller man. His expression was thoughtful and Rude wondered what the man was planning, he must have been as distracted as Rude had been. He did look troubled. However, the bald man kept mute not sure what to say himself.
"Rude, are you doing anything." The second in command asked him after looking the big rookie up and down and coming to some conclusion.
He wasn't about to tell his superior that he was running off to get his watch since Tseng must have something planned for him so he simply shook his head, hoping his watch would he there in the morning. The Wutai man frowned at him; possibly sensing that Rude was lying to him. Whatever he thought though he must have judged what he needed to be done more urgent.
"Okay, I would like you to go and fetch our young friend from this morning, I think he's been there long enough to serve his punishment and I would also like to speak to him. Is that alright?" Tseng asked.
"I don't know where he is."
"He'll most probably be with Scarlett in her private study," Rude blanched surely that was a odd place to serve a punishment. "Her study is set apart from the rest of the weapons development department so you'll need to take the elevator, but if you go along the main corridor, and take the last door on the right and carry one down the stairs. Then take the third door on the left and go up two flights of stairs and turn left again you will find a passageway, just follow that to a fork where you go right and at the end should be her study. You will be able to recognise it since her name is on the door."
Rude blinked again. He hoped he remembered all that otherwise by the sounds of things he would be lost forever.
Giving the commander a curt nod he moved round him and headed for the elevators going over the directions in his head.
Coming to the elevators, he pressed the up button and waited. As he waited, he wondered what type of punishment the woman had in store for Red, and if there would be anything left of him by the end. It was a rather elusive place to reprimand someone, it was so far from anywhere that she could do anything to him and he wouldn't be able to stop her. She wouldn't kill him surely, not over a dress. Remembering her raving this morning he started to have his doubts.
When the elevator opened, he rushed inside and slammed his fist into the right button. He stood agitated willing the machine to go faster. He should not be worried, nothing would happen. He would get there to find the redhead pouting while cleaning the woman's giant shoe collection or something, for some reason that failed to calm his nerves. Once he reached the right floor, he slipped out of the doors before they had opened probably. He stormed down the corridor. People in labs coats and carrying electrical equipment or large scrolls pressed themselves against the walls to get out of his way. He heard a few muttered curses, but he didn't care, he was struggling to stop himself breaking out into a run.
He stopped when the end of the corridor came into view. Looking to the right, he saw the door and ran to it. Pulling it open, he continued down the stairs as Tseng had said until he reached a landing. He looked his left and counted the doors as he passed them. He was starting to pant now. The third door had been left ajar and he pushed his way through. He sprinted up the stairs ignoring all other passageways and doors. Swinging down the left passageway, he carried on. The narrow corridor was dark, the lighting faint. Everything had turned to metal sometime ago. It was like running down a ventilation shaft. His footsteps echoed behind him, it made him very aware how alone he was. Coming to the fork he instinctively turned right, not stopping until he practically ran head on into a wooden door.
Rude looked around, he was standing on a rug, in what appeared to be a small hallway. The walls and floor were still metallic but plants were stationed at the four corners of the small space making it look a little more homely. Another passageway lead off somewhere to the right, but no lights lit that path. In front of him the door, perhaps a more thoughtful design than most of the doors he'd passed but it was by no means extravagant. "Scarlett" was marked into the wood in big flowing and curled letters. The gold plating glittered as his shadow blocked some of the light when he approached. He knocked.
"WHAT?" he winced at the aggressive snarl. Taking a deep breath he spoke up.
"I've been sent by Tseng."
There was some scuffling movement and then a loud bang. He heard the faint sound of heels clicking against marble and then the much louder sound of a key working its way into the lock, it clicked and the door slide open. Scarlett stood before him, looking in order and everything a superior should. No longer raving mad she could even be considered attractive if it wasn't for that evil grin on her face.
"Come in," the grin spread. She turned away and went back into her room. He followed.
She walked across the marble entrance and up a set of stairs that rose above Rude's head blocking his view of beyond though he could see the domed ceiling that rose high above them. A chandelier hung in the centre and cast the room in a soft glow. Bookshelves and displays of weapon designs were all around the circular room. When she reached the top and carried on, he noticed the annoying clicking had ceased. The rest of the room must be carpeted he thought.
Coming to the top himself, he was proved right, the floor was a rich blood red and he could feel its softness even through his heavy boots. Each step made a slight impression into the carpet. The furniture, mainly tables and a few cabinets to the side, was all a deep mahogany that shone in the green light that came through the tall windows behind Scarlett's massive desk.
She was already seating herself in the throne-like chair behind this, she'd become little more that a dark silhouette against the greenish light. Her fire illuminated some of her features as well as the person who was sitting next to her that he could vaguely make out. As he made his way forward he noticed something out the corner of his eye. Turning his head he saw that a table had been knocked over; the vase that had been on it still lay shattered. The roses lay in the dark red patch that had spread across the floor. If he squinted, he could just make out some books that had been pulled from the shelves in one of the large bookcases. This concerned him.
Scarlett smiled at him when he took his place standing in front of the desk. He glanced over at the person in the other chair and was shocked to see Red; looking so sleepy and still, he appeared catatonic. His usually bright eyes were dull and staring, looking across the desk at nothing in particular. The woman coughed to get his attention.
"You were saying?" She inquired her tone formal. Rude could tell she was pretending not to notice that Red was not himself, the smirk that she was covering behind her hands was proof.
"I'm here to collect Red." He indicated the rookie with his head. Scarlett raised a pencil thin eyebrow.
"Red? I see. You Turks and your nicknames," her red lips twisted into the evil grin yet again as she continued, "I'm afraid he cannot. I hope there is nothing Tseng wants with him."
"He said he needed to talk to him," Rude replied, doing his best to stay polite even though he desperately wanted to grab Red and get out of this place.
"Does he now? It is not the first time I have heard that. Very well, if he wants the brat so much then he will just have to come down here and get him. So you just run along and tell your superior that, besides I have plenty I still want to do with…Red." She snorted when she said this, and ruffled the messy red hair. Red didn't do anything. This lack of response freaked out Rude so much that he was out of the door before Scarlett could even bat an eyelash. She continued to smile as she watched the large man's retreating back. "Come on then, let's see what fun I can have with you until your master arrives." The door slammed shut.
Rude forgot he hadn't eaten for of twenty four hours and that he'd been working out nearly all day and his energy reserves were low, he just ran. There was something wrong, definitely wrong. It was worse than if he'd found Red missing a limb or something, what had she done to him.
"Rude?" Tseng called over to him. He'd seen the rookie sprinting down the corridor as if a raging chocobo was after him and hurried to meet him halfway as Rude back tracked. "Something wrong? Where is he?"
Gasping for air he just managed to get the words out, "…She said…that…you…have ..to ..get him…"
"Did he say anything?" Tseng sounded concerned, and he bent down so his face was closer to Rude's since he was bent over.
"No…something…wrong ...with….him." The second-in-command's eye widen and he straightened. Before Rude could say anything else, Tseng was running back the way Rude had come. Rude wanted to go after him but now he'd stopped he couldn't bring himself to go again. His lungs were bursting. He leant against the wall. Tseng must have been on his way there anyway, he was still in weapons development. His pulse calmed down and he pushed himself off the wall. He decided he would go back; he wanted to make sure the rookie was all right.
He had to walk, his body wouldn't let him run and by the time he got back to the fork he was having doubts as to whether he should have followed. He didn't really feel like hurrying back, instead he went down the left passage. He didn't go very far, just far enough to be hidden if Tseng looked around if he came back and to see the corridor he'd just come down. He rested against the metal wall, allowing his heat to seep into the cold material.
After sometime the sound of footsteps echoed down the passage, he wasn't sure where they were coming from but had a feeling it was from behind him. He was so tired he didn't plan to move anyway.
"This is a surprise," The deep voice bounced along the small corridor down to Rude. He looked round to see a reasonably tall man that appeared to have stepped out of one of those romance novels. His blonde hair shinnied in the dim light, two long bangs hung at the side of his face. The man wore a dark navy silk coat that was buttoned around his abdomen so it went out slightly at the bottom; the cuffs were white to match his pants. He also had what appeared to be a light blue scarf or ruff tucked into his shirt. Rude took all this in as the older man strode toward him with mild curiosity. "What are you doing here Turk?"
Rude had no idea who that man was but like Scarlett he got the impression he was a senior official, He straightened and saluted, "I'm waiting for Tseng, sir."
"Down here?" The man raised an eyebrow but he didn't appear angry only amused, "Interesting."
"Actually," he corrected himself, "he doesn't know I'm waiting, I'm not sure if I was meant to follow him or not."
"Ah," the man snorted he seemed to enjoying the idea Turk was skulking down here, "Tell me is Tseng seeing Scarlett?"
Rude nodded and the man became thoughtful, "I was going down there myself. I saw her dragging a poor unfortunate soul down here earlier; I suppose it was a Turk then. I'll just have to go later when she finishes whatever game she is playing."
The man walked past Rude, and carried on going until he disappeared down the corridor that led back to the main building presuming he didn't go down one of those many side passages in this rabbit warren. Now the question remains who in the world was that?
His pondering was quickly interrupted by the sound of more footsteps. This time they definitely came from the other corridor and he waited patiently. It was not long before Tseng came into view. Rude's jaw dropped, he'd never expected this; he just managed to glimpse Tseng was carrying a unconscious Red in his arms. Tseng was so busy whispering to himself the large rookie might as well have stood in plain view for all the attention he would have got. Was Red that badly hurt? What had happened to him? He felt somewhat embarrassed as well. He had a feeling that was something he wasn't meant to have seen, as if he'd witnessed something very personal. He would have to wait until he was certain Tseng had gone before he went after him. He should have just gone for his watch and not got involved. Something odd was going on and now he wanted to know what it was. He cursed his curiosity a hundred fold and quietly crept his way back.
Thankfully, he made it back to the Turk department without running into them. However, he was struck with a wild idea. He wanted to check on Red, he had to know what had happened to him. Instead of going back to his dorm as he had been planning, he changed his course to Tseng's office. He pressed his hand against his stomach trying to still the growls for food. He would wait outside the office until Tseng came back from the hospital, that was most probably where he would be taking Red now.
This was why he was surprised to find the light on. Surely, he couldn't be back already, but he was. He knocked on the door without hesitation. Tseng took a while to open but when he did, he looked slightly surprised. For one moment Rude thought he was going to turn him away, but instead Tseng sighed and held the door open for him.
Rude stepped inside, immediately taking in the major difference since he was last here. Red was asleep on Tseng's couch at the side of the room. Tseng had wrapped the young rookie in thick blankets and the redhead softly dozed, he looked adorably content.
"Is he alright, sir?" Rude asked, looking down at Red. He took in the pale face and studied it for any sign that may have caused Red to be in the state he'd been in.
"I don't know. I will have to consult Hojo about it tomorrow."
"Hojo," Rude's mind automatically recalled the conversation where he'd last heard that name. It couldn't be the same man could it? "Can't you go to the hospital?"
Tseng shook his head and sat on the couch, careful not to sit on the Turk's feet. "I don't think they'd be much help."
"Any idea what may have caused him to be…like that?"
"If your talking about that somewhat catatonic state he was in then no, but I do have a hunch but I'd rather not say."
"How long has he been unconscious?"
"When I got there, she had him sitting in a chair behind her desk. While we were talking he just suddenly collapsed, I'd say an hour but it looks like he's just sleeping now." Tseng stroked Red face, moving aside some of the bangs. This surprised Rude and he shifted uncomfortably. Did Tseng treat all the Turks like this? "Is that all?"
"Yes…I'm sorry…I just want to know if he was alright." Tseng nodded at this and Rude began exiting the room.
"Oh and Rude," The larger man looked over his shoulder, Tseng was now pulling the blanket back over Red where its slipped out of place, "Not a word about this to anyone."
"Understood, sir." He left. When he was out the door, Rude released a sigh; well that had been awkward and he was still none the wiser. He looked at his wrist to check the time but remembered his watch wasn't there. Should he leave it? It was so late now he might as well wait until the morning but that would lead to questions. He decided he might as well go, get the watch and say he got lost on the way back, to explain why he'd not come back. They'd believe him.
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A/N: celebrates It is possibly my best so far! I hope it wasn't too serious.
I can't believe I survived spell checking and proof reading all 19 pages of it!
So many blonde characters introduced! Its okay, I'm not obsessed with blondes really considering I've more or less introduced or mentioned all the blonde characters I have and there are loads more to introduce (that are not blonde). OMG the story is beginning to get into the main plot!
Please read and review